Stockman’s Showdown (The Stockmen #4)

Forty-seven

‘Hey…’ Ryder’s arms snaked around Bree’s body, holding her closer as he snuggled up to her in bed, early the next morning. ‘Are you okay?’

‘You?’ Of course, she didn’t answer.

‘My hand is sore from signing all that paperwork for the police. At least we can sleep in.’ Why move? He didn’t have to sneak out like he used to.

She sighed into the pillow. ‘You don’t hate me or think I’m weird?’

‘Sure. But for which part.’ His lips curled against her soft skin, that was warm like summer morning, soft like silky cream, and smelled of heaven.

‘For shooting Leo.’

‘No.’ He rolled her over to brush away her hair, to read her eyes. ‘You don’t scare me. You never did.’

‘But I shot Leo. I think we broke the rules of murder club.’

‘It wasn’t murder, Bree, it was self-defence. Leo would have used that gun if he’d gotten the chance, he kidnapped you, and he would’ve been slippery enough to get away with what he’d done to you, Charlie, and my family. You said he’d never stop.’

‘That’s true.’

‘But you stopped him, and you slept so well you snored all night.’

‘Pfft, I don’t snore.’

‘You do. Which means you have no guilt for your actions. You understand that feeling of guilt, right?’

‘I do. I used to feel so guilty over not believing Charlie about Harry.’ She paused, with her brow ruffling. ‘Is that why you were always walking around the homestead at night, worrying?’

He rolled onto his back to stare at the ceiling. ‘I used to suffer nightmares. Snatches of things from missions I’d hoped to forget. I haven’t slept well in years, not until I began sleeping with you.’ He tenderly stroked her nose, her worry and the open vulnerability so clear.

She sat up, tucking in the surrounding sheets. ‘Are you sure you want to be with someone who shot a man?’

‘Hey.’ He tapped her thigh, sitting up beside her. ‘I get why you did it.’

‘Are you sure? Because I’m having trouble trying to work out why I’m not upset over it.’

‘Because you never got the chance to protect your mother. But you are protective of Charlie, even me and my brothers. You’re very protective of your family, Bree. It’s one of the many things I love about you.’

Her eyes flared.

‘Yes, I love you. You weren’t the only one who shot him. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if anyone dared to harm you. But right now,’ he said, kissing her forehead. ‘I need the bathroom. I’ve never used the bathroom in this house before. Where is it, again?’

‘It’s the last door on the right.’

He wasn’t expecting a response from Bree for saying he loved her, because she would need time. But he’d do it again just to keep her safe. Although he’d give Dex some training on guerrilla warfare for the future. With Ash the late-night gamer also keen to learn more, it wouldn’t hurt to build a firing range one day.

From inside the bathroom, he heard the kettle whistling in the kitchen.

At the sink, he splashed water over his face, taming down his hair that was everywhere. Drying his face on a towel, he checked out the showerhead. It was massive compared to the outdoor shower he used, avoiding the farmhouse bathroom for fear of disturbing Harper’s various bottled products. Dex had told him that Bree had made this shower herself, with a tub big enough to hold two people, which had a grand view of the garden and paddock. Now that’s a bathroom! One he’d love to share with Bree.

‘Morning, son.’ Charlie was at the island bench, the aroma of his billy tea warming, blending with the other herbs hanging from the kitchen window.

‘Charlie. How are you?’

‘Can’t complain. How’s Bree?’

‘She’s a little unsure about what she did yesterday.’

‘Killing Leo?’

Ryder nodded.

‘Bree was the same when she shot that mongrel in the bum, that time. Warning them fellas she’d aim for their heads, before you mob bought this place.’ He finished pouring out his billy tea into three cups. One was his battered enamel cup that went everywhere with him. One was Bree’s. Charlie pushed the third cup across the wooden counter to Ryder.

The gesture made his day.

‘You’re a good man, Ryder. But you’ll have your hands full with that one.’

‘I know.’

‘Nah, I don’t think you do. Bree’s had to fight for everything. At school, the kids picked on her when they found out about her parents. Of course she fought them, but it became that thing her and Finn had in common.’

‘They met in school?’

‘Boarding school.’ Charlie sighed, hands on his hips, with his head slowly shaking from side to side. ‘I wished she’d finished school, but when my beautiful Bea passed away, Bree quit to come home and take care of me. None of us expected Finn to show up looking for work soon after. And, well, you know the rest…’ Charlie gazed at the locked door.

‘Is that Liam’s room?’

‘It is.’ Charlie sighed. ‘All I want is for Bree to be happy. As a kid, she was happy, then lost her parents. As a married woman with a family, she was happy, then lost everything. All that heartache does something to a person, that she’s learned not to get close to anyone. But then you came along, son. You took her brassiness and showed her it was okay to be herself and not change. I liked that about you. Hell, son, you shot up the neighbours to rescue us, and for that…’ He held out his hand to Ryder. ‘You have my respect, my gratitude, and I’d like to welcome you to the family.’

He shook Charlie’s hand, grateful for it. ‘You don’t need to be so formal, Charlie. The cuppa is enough.’

‘It’s what Bree wanted.’ Charlie gave a coy wink as he tapped the side of his temple. ‘I know you two have been sneaking around.’

‘You do, huh?’

‘Back in the day I would have chased you out with the shotgun, but then I saw how much Bree smiles with you. It’s like there’s this weight lifted off her shoulders, like she’s finding her happiness, again.’

‘I hope so.’

‘You’ll know it when you see it. Coz when that girl opens her heart, Ryder, it is a beautiful thing. That’s when she’ll tuck you under that protective wing of hers, where no matter what, she’ll always have your back. But if I know that girl, she’ll be wondering if she’s scared you off.’

‘She hasn’t.’

‘I hope not. There aren’t too many men strong enough to handle a strong woman like Bree. Finn had his shot and lost it. Leo thought he could, but he would have taken her down a dark path. For you, it’s the other way around. It’s Bree who is bringing you out of that darkness, and she’s just hitching a ride that’s helping both of you.’

What the? Ryder double blinked. Was Charlie right? Bree had not only been teaching him to play, but she’d also softened up a lot herself since they’d first met, bickering with each other.

‘I’m not gonna ask, but I’m guessing it’s something you did in your army days, coz, son, you didn’t even flinch shooting Leo. But then, neither did Bree. Never be afraid of her, Ryder, coz that girl has a bucketload of love to give.’ Then with cup in hand, Charlie pushed open the back door. ‘Be sure to give my granddaughter her cuppa. It’s a rare thing for her to have a cuppa in bed.’

‘I will.’

‘Well, I’ll get out of your hair, boss. You have a station to run where that to-do list never ends.’ Charlie slid on his well-worn stockman’s hat, tapped the brim, and walked out the back door carrying his tin mug.

Ryder carried the other two mugs into the bedroom to find Bree getting dressed. ‘What are you doing? I thought we could stay in bed.’ He held out the tea mug. ‘Charlie made me a cuppa.’

‘I see that.’

‘And he welcomed me to the family.’

‘Really?’ Her eyebrows lifted as she sipped from her cup.

Outside the big shepherd barked, and Ryder pulled back the curtain to spot the police car rolling in.

‘Marcus is early,’ murmured Bree over his shoulder.

‘Or he’s stopping in on his way home. I’ll go see. We’ll be down in the boardroom. Come find me later?’

‘Pfft. I’m not running after you. Not when I have horses to feed, and Charlie will cook breakfast soon.’ She gave a coy grin. ‘Now you’ve got the welcome, that old man will save you a plate, you know that.’

‘Well, I’ll be back to join you then.’ And wasn’t going to miss it.

He kissed her cheek, then tenderly stroked her hair. ‘You don’t scare me, Bree. In fact, I respect you, admire you, as well as love you more each and every day.’

She gasped slightly at his words.

But it had him smiling, as he threw on his shirt, and left the cottage through the front door, heading down the stone path. The fragrance of the flowers in the front garden was invigorating as they greeted the sun.

Looking back at the stone cottage, at the way the sunlight spread its warm buttery light over the quiet and peaceful homestead, made last night seem like a nightmare. Leo was gone, Elsie Creek Station was secure, and Charlie had welcomed him into the family. After everything they’d been through, it felt like the dawn of not only a new day, but a new beginning to this place they all called home.