Page 22 of Rough Stock

Alistair cleared his throat.

‘If it makes you feel any better, I have one for bees and their honey.’ She was very picky over the right colour, clarity, and consistency of her honey. It showed the magic of the bees themselves and their fascinating world. She could watch them for hours.

‘Yeah, right…’

She rolled her eyes, remembering herself. ‘Did you tell my boss where I am?’

‘I’ve told no one, not even my work colleagues. It’s safer that way.’

Then why didn’t she feel safe?

This was why she couldn’t relax. She couldn’t neatly fix the issue and file it away in a neat little box. Not when this box of information had grown to become a whole series of boxes, filling her mind, it’s the reason why she’d cleaned out a garden shed in record time.

‘Look, I’ve got to go. Keep your nose clean, doll, and as soon as we catch ‘em, I’ll call.’

‘I’ve only got two more weeks left with Craig, then he won’t need my help.’

‘Check in with me in a week, just so I know you’re alive.’ He hung up on her.

‘Who are you talking to?’

She spun around to face Craig, her chest squeezing at having said too much. ‘I didn’t hear you come out.’ How much did he hear? ‘What did the doctor say?’

Craig narrowed his eyes at her. ‘You were there for that part of the conversation.’

‘Oh, yeah, right.’ She went to open the door of the ute, but he grabbed her arm.

‘What’s going on, Izzy?’

‘Nothing.’Everything. Did she lie? Technically, she could argue that she wasn’t lying because he hadn’t narrowed down the topic of conversation.

‘Izzy?’ He lowered his head. At that angle, his bright blue eyes seemed to pierce through her shields.

‘I’ve changed my mind. I think you should take another look at that job Finn offered you yesterday.’ She pointed at the neighbouring police station.

‘What made you change your mind?’

‘They’re the good guys, right? And you are too, Craig. I know you can do a lot of good for the local farmers, because you have the skills and the experience to excel at the position. Just promise me it won’t be near any gun stuff.’

Craig laughed, and it magically changed his features: the wide smile, the straight white teeth, smooth chin and blond hair that curled just under the brim of his hat. Oh, he was a heartbreaker—even if he was limping to the car with the use of a crutch.

‘Careful, sweetheart, I might start thinking you actually care about me with comments like that.’

She cared. The problem was she’d never stopped caring. But now it worried her that by simply being near him she was putting Craig at risk, especially when he couldn’t protect himself, when he couldn’t even drive a car.

It’s why her assistant was murdered, just for being with Izzy when the murderer came for her. Was she doing the same to Craig?

But someone like Detective Sergeant Finn Wilde could protect Craig until Craig had fully recovered, so she could then continue being a girl on the run. ‘Should we see Finn about the job?’

‘I’d rather we went and spoke to a woman about a bull.’

Nine

Craig used Izzy’s hand to help him get out of the ute’s passenger seat. Not that he needed the help, but he was taking every chance he got with what little time they had left together. Plus, he wasn’t keen on hiding back in the house again, especially now he was out and about. He was going to take full advantage of it—even if this visit wasn’t a happy reunion. ‘Hi, Ginny.’

‘I’m so sorry, Craig.’ Ginny squinted, her hand shading her many wrinkles, with her grey hair piled loosely on her head. ‘I’m so sorry Wraith did that to you.’

‘It was my fault.’ Even if Craig wanted to hide his injuries, he still had to balance on one of his crutches.

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