Page 100 of Stockman's Showdown

‘Lenny knows a gold broker to smelt it down.’

‘We could do that in the smithy’s shed.’ After all, she bent steel for a living.

‘But this fella gives you some smancy certificate to sell it, keep it, or spend it.’

Bree checked over the locks in the back of the vintage car, before hoisting her leather bag over her shoulder, so much lighter with no gin bottles to carry, which she’d normally supply at an event like this where all her regular customers were attending. But tonight was for Charlie, who was looking extra sharp with his hair neatly trimmed, shaved, and in his good town boots and belt. ‘What do you want to do with that gold?’

‘I want you to spend it on that holiday you’re always yakking on about. Then I want you to buy yourself a place. A home.’

Even though that had always been the plan when the caretaker’s caveat ended, it meant losing not only her home but also her grandfather. The thought alone felt like an invisible, frozen hand was squeezing her heart.

‘You’ll want something with a decent paddock for the stockhorses, and a vegetable garden you can watch grow from the kitchen window…’

‘Ah huh.’ Funny that. It’s exactly what she’d said to Charlie years ago, when Darcie first mentioned the caretaker’s caveat. And again, when the station went up for sale, and again when Leo’s men tried to strongarm Charlie into signing a waiver. But Charlie refused, determined to spend his last days at Elsie Creek Station, just like Darcie.

‘You’ll want to get yourself a pizza oven for baking bread in the mornings to not heat the house,’ he said, ‘and maybe a proper spa, instead of that watering trough you’ve got, to soak in at the end of a hot day on the tools.’

‘Are you saying you want me to stay on the tools, Pop?’ From a family of master brand makers, a tradition passed down from generation to generation, was she the last?

‘You love it. Don’t deny it, I saw you there yesterday. Me and Ryder were watching you, singing away as you made some new cattle brand. It’s art for you, like it’s always been for me.’

‘A trade I have no papers for.’ There were very few traditional blacksmiths around these days.

‘Most people wouldn’t understand, but back in the day you didn’t need pieces of paper to do a job. You just had to show a fella that you had a good set of hands willing to work, and a set of ears willing to listen and learn.’

‘Pity I did none of that.’ She grinned.

Charlie chuckled, then held out his bent elbow to her. ‘Stick with me, kid, and I’ll show you a good time.’

She happily hooked her arm through his. ‘You always have, Pop.’

From the day she’d arrived at Elsie Creek Station—homeless, motherless, fatherless, stepping off a bus in a strange town, with her name written on a paper luggage tag that was pinned to the same dress she’d been wearing when the police had found her—through everything, it was Charlie who’d helped her smile again. Seeing her grandfather smiling like this only made her smile more. It was like the rodeo champion was finally coming home.

Thirty-five

Inside the rodeo, Ryder leaned against the tall pub tables, alongside Ash, watching the many people coming and going.

Dex plonked three schooners of beer on their table and handed them out. ‘Where did Harper and Sophie go?’

‘To look around.’ Ash sipped his beer.

‘Any sign of Bree and Charlie?’ Dex took a sip from his glass, with his eye on the shifting crowd. ‘Pandora’s here.’

‘I think I spotted the redhead over there.’ Ryder pointed to the crowd that shifted between the bleachers, the bar, or the stalls that were selling food, drinks, and assorted paraphernalia. It was busier than expected.

‘I spotted Bree earlier,’ said Ash. ‘She’s looking hot tonight. I’m so used to seeing her in riding gear or her blacksmithing gear that it’s always a shock when she shows off her legs.’

Ryder grumbled behind his beer, keen to find her. But then she’d tell him to nick off, unlike any other women he’d met.

‘What’s going on with you and Bree?’ Dex poked up the brim of his hat, resting his elbows on their beer table, his keen eyes taking in the details.

‘Nothing.’ Ryder shrugged.

‘Nah…’ Narrowing his eyes, Ash leaned in from the other side of the table as if to get a closer look at Ryder. ‘I agree with Dex.Even Harper asked me if there was something going on between you two. You’re being nice to each other, when normally you’d be bickering or complaining about her.’

‘Butmaaaate…’ Dex let rip that cheesy grin, pointing his beer at Ryder. ‘Cap told me he spotted you this morning, putting on your shirt while sneaking out of the caretaker’s cottage.’

‘No way.’ Ash raised his eyebrows at Dex. ‘Gotta admit, our big brother did look like he’d just gotten out of bed at this morning’s meeting.’

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