Page 16 of Rough Stock

‘I’m building a team of outback experts to help defend Australia’s livestock from theft and other outside threats on a federal level.’

‘Haven’t the NT Police got something like that already?’

‘Not anymore they don’t,’ mumbled Craig. ‘It got disbanded by some new politician or new police chief years ago. A lot of cattlemen still complain about it.’

‘I believe it’s to do with the lack of stockmen’s skills police have these days. Most of them can’t even ride a horse,’ said Finn, the stockman turned cop. ‘As this is a federally funded operation, we’ll have access to work across all borders, in particular the northern livestock industry. To help this trial succeed, I get to choose my team. And I would like you, Craig, to join the team.’

Craig blinked a few times, not sure if he’d heard right. ‘I’m not a cop.’

‘No. You’re what I’d class a specialist.’

‘Excuse me?’ His wife was the specialist. ‘I’m just a stockman.’

‘You’re a lot more than that, mate. You’re a senior stock inspector who ran Darwin’s export yards as the Territory’s Livestock Quarantine Manager. I know from hunting with you that you’re also an excellent tracker, and you also do rodeo.’

‘Did,’ butted in Izzy.

Craig narrowed his eyes at the woman trying to play nicey-wifey. ‘I’m pretty sure your line of work would involve paperwork. I don’t do paperwork, politics, or office policies that change all the time, so I never bother learning them.’

‘Believe me, I hate office politics and do my best to avoid the paperwork.’ Finn gave a sly grin. ‘Bree warned me of that. So, I have a solution for both of us about the paperwork. But I want you on board.’

‘Why?’

‘You know the locals, not only as a stock inspector, but as a local rodeo champion and a stockman who has worked most of this region. You know this country, but you also know most of the people we deal with. Cattlemen don’t open up to strangers, so having you with us will make it easier for the team to do our job.’

‘You forgot the part about his popularity with the females, too.’ Izzy’s words may seem sweet, but they carried a lot of venom.

Craig met her glare. She’d left for the sake of her career, and even though he’d tried to keep up the long-distance relationship, after that last disastrous trip, she’d suggested they lead separate lives—making him, heartbreakingly and technically, a single man.

Not that he ever had to try too hard with women. He never had. Except for Izzy. She was the only woman he’d ever chased, the only woman he’d ever loved. And the only one who’d burned him so badly, he couldn’t bring himself to let anyone that close again.

It was the reminder he needed—she was going to leave again. And this time, he had to be ready for it.

‘But there’s also another idea I’d like to run by you, too.’ Finn paused.

‘Go on,’ urged Craig.

‘I know you don’t have any stock in your yards.’ Finn pointed to the shiny windows that blessed them with a clear view of Dustfire’s lands. ‘I’m looking for a quarantine station for the stock we recover.’

‘What does that entail?’ Izzy asked.

‘We need to keep the animals somewhere safe as part of our enquiries. We’d pay agistment fees, with someone trusted enough to care for the stock, in a place that’d allow the vet to check out the animals, unhindered, for our reports. I believe you know the town’s vet?’ Finn asked Craig.

‘Ryan and I go way back.’

‘So Bree tells me.’

How much did Bree tell her ex-husband? It was so unlike Bree, who was usually good at keeping secrets.

‘As part of our investigations, we need to check over the animals, which, as you know, takes time. And the farmers will need to provide paperwork to prove ownership before they can claim their stock.’

‘How long would the animals stay in the quarantine station?’ Izzy asked.

Finn leaned back in his chair to let Craig answer that question.

‘Two to four weeks,’ replied Craig. ‘It’s standard practice. Any new animals brought to a station are quarantined. And you want to do that here?’

Finn nodded, again peering out the window. ‘Bree said Dustfire would be perfect as a quarantine station. She saw firsthand what I needed when we rescued Elsie Creek Station’s stolen cattle. I know Bree was thinking of making you an offer on this place, for after Charlie passed, but that’s before Ryder Riggs came along…’ Finn rubbed the scowl from his face, taking a deep gulp of his tea.

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