Page 73 of Cold Stock

‘Keep hanging out with Stone, and I’m sure you will.’

Didn’t that make her stomach flutter, making her turn away from Chook, hoping he didn’t notice her growing attraction to Stone.

‘Am I seeing that right?’Romy double-blinked, shifting in her stance.‘Some of those crocodiles have moved.’In their place were large slide marks across the muddy banks leading into the water.

‘That’s a good sign.’Chook pushed off the stool.‘It must mean fish are comin’.Get ready, Roman.’

She felt her rod tap, tap, tap.‘Something’s knocking on my line.’

Chook delicately held her line as if reading Morse code.‘They’re nibbling.By the feel of that you’ve got a good one, too.’

‘What do I do?’

‘Wait for it, let ‘em take the bait.Be patient, Roman.’

‘It’s Ro-meee.’Then her line went zing, and it curved over.‘What ishappening?’It was like someone had strapped her hook to the back of a speeding submarine.

‘You’re on, Roman.Reel it in.’

Seconds felt like hours as she reeled in the fishing line, sweat pouring down her face.Her shirt clung to her skin, her eyes widening as she yanked the handle, fighting to bring it in.Then a large silver fish broke free from the water.It made her pause.‘It’s beautiful.’

‘It’s a barra.Reel it in faster.You’ve gotta beat them mongrel crocs, or they’ll pinch it off ya.’

Her arms ached from using muscles she didn’t know she had, turning the handle like an old-fashioned eggbeater, as Chook coached her how to use her body weight to haul in a fish that seemed miles away in the water.

‘Where did the crocodiles go?’None of them were on the banks anymore.

‘They’re trying to steal our lunch.Come on, Roman.Faster.’

She tried, but it was never-ending.‘How much line is out there?’

‘Don’t you worry about that, you just keep going.It’s time to take down that empire, Roman, and reel in that trophy.’Chook hobbled along the side of the boat and soon returned with a large net on a long pole.‘Keep going and don’t stop until I tell you.’

‘It’s all over the place.’

‘Which means it’s got you dragging it one way while trying to beat the crocs behind him.Faster.’

The reel burned in her hands as the fish fought against the tight line, threatening to snap it.Then, just as the large silver fish leapt from the water again, a crocodile lunged after it.

‘Where is my camera?’She was missing out on some magnificent footage.

‘Don’t worry about that.’Stone stood at the corner of the back deck, taping her with his phone.‘Keep reeling it in, shortcake.Big game fishermen pay a lot of money for the privilege of hauling in a barra.And in the Territory, it’s a rite of passage when you catch one.’

‘What Stone said.Keep your eyes on the prize, Roman.’

She tried, yet it felt like forever before she dragged it closer to the houseboat, where it skimmed over the lush, tall water grasses.

As Chook leaned down to scoop it up, a crocodile snatched at it.

She screamed.

‘This is the Roman’s fish, you mongrel.’Chook whacked the crocodile on the head with the net.‘Pull, Roman.Pull.’

She yanked the rod hard, sending the fish flying out of the water—where it smacked against the side of the houseboat with a heavy thud

‘MOVE.’Stone dropped his phone, and yanked Chook aside before diving across the deck to tackle Romy, shielding her against his chest as his body slammed into the far wall.

Right behind him, a crocodile launched from the river, crashing through the railing that shattered into pieces before landing on the deck with a heavy thud, making the houseboat rock violently.

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