Forty-three
It was late in the afternoon as Cap steered his trusty Tojo through the wide-open gates of Elsie Creek Station. Willow and Fern gave barks of joy from the back cage. He felt it too. ‘It’s good to be home.’ Especially after the day they’d had.
‘When can we pick up Atlas?’ Mia asked from the passenger seat.
He liked the way she said we . ‘Tomorrow. Ryan’s giving him another treatment tonight, to be on the safe side.’ The dog needed sleep and Atlas wasn’t doing that with everyone, including his furry playmates, in the same room.
‘Atlas is going to be okay.’
‘I know.’ It still hurt. ‘What about you?’ He gave her a gentle smile, his eyes roaming over her face. In make-up, new shirt, and her hair back, showing the world how truly beautiful she was. ‘Look at you.’
‘I got attacked by Harper and Bree.’ She dropped her head humbly.
‘You look amazing. If we weren’t so beat, I would have taken you out to dinner. But we’ll do it soon. Like a date?’
How slack was he, when Mia deserved to be spoiled? He was going to speak to Ash about the romantic stuff. His baby brother was always spoiling his lady, organising with Cap to babysit for their weekly date nights.
‘That’d be nice. I’d like that.’
His eyes narrowed at her. She seemed different, more confident. ‘Something happened to you, didn’t it? During the trials?’
Mia nodded. ‘I think I found my confidence again. Did that sound foolish?’
‘Hey, remember who you’re talking to. All secrets, worries, or any fears we have, we share between us so we can tackle them together. Okay?’ He gave her hand a tender squeeze.
‘I promise.’ She playfully rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t want to hide anymore.’
‘Really?’ That sounded promising.
‘And I don’t want to run either.’
‘Does that mean you’ll stay here with me?’
She hesitated.
‘Hey, no rush.’ Even though he wanted to rush her, he was also a patient man. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ He steered them around the sweeping bend and the farmhouse came into view.
But there was no shepherd barking from the front porch to greet them.
It was enough to make him slow down.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘There’s no Sarge.’ The massive shepherd would normally run out and greet him, along with Scout. After what happened to Atlas, it had him worried.
They came around the bend where a large maroon Land Cruiser ute had parked in the yard. ‘Who does that belong to?’
‘Oh, no, it’s Gavin’s.’ Mia’s face paled.
‘Are you sure?’ His grip tightened on the steering wheel. That arsehole had better not be here!
‘Maybe. I’m not sure, because it’s got a dog cage on the back, and Gavin hates dogs.’ She leaned closer, then her eyes widened and she sat back. ‘It is his ute. I gave him that footy sticker by the number plate and those are his fancy tyres. I remember the hassle he went through to get those rims.’
It was a fancy ute. ‘I can turn us around and go.’
Mia sat tall, shoulders back, chin high, then she tapped Dodge’s collar that hung from the rear-view mirror.
It was his gentle reminder that he’d get through the bad days. And this had been one exceptionally bad day. Yet, it always gave him strength.
Now it seemed to be doing the same for Mia, when she said, ‘No. I have to finish this.’
‘Are you sure?’ He wanted to smile and cheer his girl on. Look out, who knew courage could be so stunning.
‘Yes.’ She may have said yes, but her head was shaking no. ‘I’m guessing Bree would tell me it’s time to face my demons.’
‘It’s been a big day for it.’
‘Tell me about it.’
Today, in the arena, Mia didn’t win, but she made sixth place. It was a brilliant result for someone who had only just learned how to work with muster dogs.
Cap wished he’d been there to cheer her on. But, then again, if he had been there, she wouldn’t have entered.
Did fate have a hand in this? Because through Mia’s determination in the arena, not only had she faced her fear of being in the public eye, but she’d also successfully captured the audience’s attention. His brothers had been swamped with queries about muster dog training. But more importantly, he had queries about not only about retraining some problem dogs, but to help stockmen rebuild their mustering dog teams. It’s what he was hoping for all along.
But right now, this was Mia’s greatest threat ahead of her. Did she have the strength to do this? Or was she still riding on some high from today?
Mia gripped his hand. ‘Can you please promise me you won’t lose your temper?’
He couldn’t promise her that, not after what Gavin had done to her. Not when the memory flashed in his mind of her bloodied and bruised. ‘I’ll try.’
This woman had ignited something so primal inside him that he would protect her at all costs. The fates weren’t going to help this Gavin, should he even dare look at Mia the wrong way, because Cap, the peacemaker, was ready to go to war!