Page 26 of Stockman's Showdown

Ryder crouched down beside the skeletons, that were holding onto each other. Those words:Together Forever, would have been the last thing they saw, if they had light. But there were no signs of a campfire, obviously to conserve the oxygen.

‘It’d be a horrible way to die.’ Dex’s torchlight swept over the skeletons, causing their shadows to stretch over the cave’s walls.

‘It’s every underground miner’s nightmare.’ Ryder felt sorry for them. ‘I’d say the couple would have lost consciousness and eventually succumbed to hypoxia.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Oxygen deprivation. They would have become dizzy and suffered with a shortness of breath.’ He pointed to the shovels and the old mallet and pick leaning against the wall, where they’d tried to dig themselves out. ‘Eventually they would have passed out.’ Which they did in each other’s arms. ‘At least they weren’t in any pain.’

‘Do you think, that if they died trapped in here, was this some sort of cosmic karma, as a payback for murdering Penelope’s husband, Jack Price?’

‘That’s for the forensic team to decide. But at least Charlie will finally have his answers.’ But how was the old man going to react when he discovered his brother had been trapped inside this cave, like a tomb, for sixty years?

In desperate need of some fresh air, Ryder exited the cave with Dex right beside him. He faced the sun, inhaling heavily to peer up at the sky, and the sheer wall that towered above them that made up Cattleman’s Keep.

Ash stood nearby, holding the horses’ reins in the shade of the stone wall. ‘What did you find? Bree said little.’

‘We found Charlie’s brother Harry.’ Dex dragged out his water bottle from his saddlebags.

Ryder took the reins of his horse. ‘Ash, can you ride back and help the girls pack up camp, and send them home. Tell Cap to get his dogs ready to finish this muster, then follow Bree’s lead.’

‘Fine by me, I’m not one for stirring up ghosts in dark caves.’ Ash quickly flung himself into the saddle and adjusted his reins. ‘I’m glad we’re sending the ladies home. That stampede reminded me how dangerous mustering can be.’

‘It’s the wake-up call we all needed.’

‘It’s what I was warning you about.’ Ryder scowled at his two younger brothers.

‘What’s up your nose? Bree stopped the stampede and the way the cattle are, they’ll follow her.’

‘Bree nearly got trampled by the cattle—and then almost crushed by the landslide. This is our job, our herd, not hers. Remember, Bree isn’t even on our payroll, yet she’s about to lead the muster.’ The memory of how close she’d come to disaster, and how much she was already doing for them, had him so angry that if he gritted his teeth any harder, they’d crack.

Ryder saw throughBree’s need for being overly independent. It was a defence mechanism for being constantly let down—and he did not want to let her down. Yet there was nothing he could do to help Bree, who was about to give her grandfather the kind of heartbreaking news no one ever wants to deliver to someone they love.

Twelve

Ash caught up to Bree, helping her round up the stray stockhorses with their saddles and packs still in place, forming a long horse train as they headed back to camp. Ahead, she spotted her grandfather, sifting through the remnants of their stock camp.

It was enough to make her guts twist into hot knots of lava for what she was about to do.

‘Hey, Bree, well done on stopping the stampede. I took some awesome photos.’ Sophie grinned, holding up her camera.

Bree scowled at Sophie. ‘Pack up camp. You girls are going home.’

Mia froze, her eyes wide, side-glancing at Harper, who looked just as stunned. ‘On our own?’

‘You’ll be fine.’ Ash jumped off his horse, to stroke Harper’s cheek tenderly, giving her a gentle smile. ‘I trust Shortbread to take you home, no worries.’ He pointed to the cream-coloured stockhorse he’d bought his partner as a gift.

‘But?’ Harper hoisted the toddler Mason higher on her hip.

‘You can do it. Just stick together and keep at a steady pace.’ Bree gave an encouraging nod to Harper and Mia. It was Sophie who might need some coaching. ‘Cap, can you and your muster dogs help me, and Ash, muster the cattle towards the yards?’

‘Sure.’ Cap nodded, as he approached them.

‘Cap and I will take care of the horses, we’ll wait for your call, Bree.’ Ash nodded at her with sadness in his eyes. ‘I’ll find some torches and put them in your saddlebags.’

‘Thanks.’ For once she didn’t think ahead, her mind was all muddled.

Ash nodded at her. ‘You do what you need to do.’

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