Page 33 of Rough Stock

‘I tried to get the blood out as much as I could.’ The kid dragged off his big hat, as if at a funeral. ‘You gonna rodeo again?’

‘Not the bulls. I’ve learned my lesson.’ Craig gently coiled the rope in his hand in a well-practised move, fighting through the pain of his ribs to do it, too.

Izzy cleared her throat at Craig.

‘Oh, sorry, Brodie Cross, this is—’

‘The wife.’ Brodie wore a big cheesy grin, his teeth so white against his deep tan, as he slapped his oversized hat back on his head. ‘You know you’ve gotta be ten times prettier than all the single women in this town.’

‘Thank you, Brodie.’

The kid blushed, scuffing the toe of one well-worn boot in the dirt.

Craig narrowed his eyes, his voice low. ‘Are you flirting with my wife, Brodie?’

Didn’t that make her back straighten after hearing the protectiveness in his tone? It was not only primal, but a turn-on for someone who’d been on her own for so long. She’d missed that.

Brodie tipped his hat at her. ‘Sorry, miss, I’m just teasing, is all.’

‘Leave him alone, Craig.’

Again, another blush, and another cute smile from Brodie.

‘Fine. I’ll let you off this once, only because the lady likes you.’

This time, Brodie went bright red and tugged at his collar.

The poor boy.

‘So, what’s the gossip in the stockyards?’ Craig asked, dumping the rope into the back of his ute.

‘Besides you and your…’ Brodie stopped to sigh all goofy-like at Izzy. ‘Wife.’

Craig cleared his throat, a frown flickering under the shade of his hat’s brim.

‘One of Ginny’s rodeo bulls got nicked.’

‘I heard. Anything else new in town?’

‘They got a new Stock Squad moving into Elsie Creek Police Station with a new female cop. Not as pretty as…’ Again, Brodie shyly smiled at Izzy. ‘Is it true you’re a top-notch criminal lawyer?’

‘Was. I’m between jobs while I’m helping Craig.’

Craig arched an eyebrow at her in surprise. ‘Since when?’

Oops.

‘You should be our town lawyer, you know. You’d have your hands full, if you did.’ Brodie started ticking off names on his fingers, streaked with dirt. ‘The Blinstons are feuding over fence lines with the Margarites. The Donnovan’s are getting divorced. Mr Lawson wants a new will to disown his grandchildren for putting him into the new aged-care home they’ve got for stockmen, here in town. And Mrs Winton wants to know her rights over some new business buying up land for development. She’s worried it’s gonna be a new mine.’

Izzy was impressed with Brodie’s detailed gossip about the townsfolk.

‘Do you know who this developer is and if they want other properties?’ They could be a potential buyer for Dustfire.

Craig’s brow ruffled in disbelief.

Avoiding his eyes, she just didn’t have the heart to face him. Besides, Craig knew what her intentions were from day one. It’s why she was busy cleaning the place to make it more presentable. For a farm set in a remote location with no stock to sell, it was going to be a struggle to find a suitable buyer in this economy. Although, if they had the contract for the quarantine station it might help.

Brodie shook his head. ‘Mrs Winton doesn’t even know who her new neighbours are. She’s worried, coz she’d heard about that lithium mining fiasco trying to steal water from their neighbouring cattle station. Mrs Winton doesn’t want that happening to her. It’s not right, you know. She owns a hemp farm of the legit kind. She also plays softball with the other girls—you should play.’

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