Page 35

‘What the hell were you thinking, old man?’ Stone was livid. His hands shook with anger as he kicked the broken bits of wood that used to make up part of the wooden side-rail and stool over the side of the riverboat.

‘It was just a fish.’

‘Bull it was.’ Stone inspected the wooden posts that were solid, but the side rail was useless now.

What was worse, there were lots of telltale scratches of their mighty claws running all along the side of the houseboat.

‘How many times have they tried to do this? And what happened to the mesh panels?’

They were still there—kind of. Rusted in spots, sagging in others.

The heavy-duty mesh had once lined the lower sides like security screens, meant to let the air in and keep the grumpy little swamp goblins out.

But after that single hit—from one determined croc chasing a barra—the whole side was exposed.

The railing had splintered, and the mesh now flapped loose, leaving a wide, dangerous gap.

Stone hadn’t realised how weatherworn and brittle it’d all become—until now.

Should’ve fixed it properly last wet. Not just patched it. Where he’d promised himself he’d get to it later. Except later showed up teeth-first.

Stone then noted how quiet Chook had gotten. So again he asked, ‘what happened to the mesh panels?’

‘Lost ‘em.’

Stubborn fool probably didn’t notice how bad it was until now.

‘I’m coming back for that jumping croc, he’s done it once too many, he’ll do it again. And I’ll be bringing a stack of mesh to weld up this side.’ It’d be one big mother of a cage if he had his way.

Thud . Chook put his wooden stump down so hard it rumbled along the deck. ‘Like hell you are.’

‘Don’t fight me on this.’

‘I bloody well will. And I’ll shoot at your chopper so you can’t land.’

‘I’ll bring the mesh by truck, then I’ll tie you up to your stool with a carton of beer to not annoy me as I work.’

‘It’s my boat!’

‘And Romy nearly became croc bait. And you, too.’

‘But we didn’t, lad. We didn’t.’ Chook’s voice softened as he grabbed Stone’s arm. ‘I’m still here, and so are you. We’re all here to fight another day.’

Stone heaved hot air, desperate to put a lid on his raging temper. ‘I’m still coming back and meshing up those sides.’ He’d need it to keep the old man safe, or Stone wouldn’t be able to sleep.

‘How am I going to fish, then?’

‘Use the top deck.’ He pointed to the sides showing the marks. ‘They’ll do it again, and you know it.’

Sadly, Chook was getting slower. Back in the day, he would’ve spotted that croc before it leapt onto the deck. That’s why those lethal predators were hanging around, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to snatch the old man.

Crocodiles were creatures of opportunity. All they’d need is Chook to slip on his wooden leg, and with no protective panels, they’d have him.

Gritting his teeth, Stone had his eye on the river rat that had dared to jump on board, already planning his one-way trip to faraway land or another farm.

‘I’ll be back in a few days with a croc trap.

I’ll bring out some diesel for your generator, too.

Stay out of trouble.’ Should he pinch the old man’s stash of rum, just in case?

Thank heavens he’d suggested The Vegan move onto Chook’s land, hoping the odd pair would become friends in time. Then Stone wouldn’t have to worry about Chook being on his own out here, not when he was pushing seventy.

‘Hey, this wasn’t your fault, Stone.’ Chook grabbed his arm again. ‘What happened to Two-stroke wasn’t your fault either.’

Stone pulled his arm free, heated anger and guilt bubbled dangerously inside his chest. ‘I’ve gotta go set up the new tanks at the quarantine station, but I will be back with a brush cutter to cut down this croc grass, so they have fewer places to hide.’

‘Whatever floats your boat. Just know it’s not your fault. And you can bring back Roman any time with her camera.’ Chook handed the heavy camera to Stone. ‘I’ll take her out on the dinghy.’

‘I doubt you’ll get her on a boat again, not after this.’ Because Romy had been so scared she’d left her camera behind. Suddenly remembering he’d tossed his phone somewhere… Spotting it under the table, he scooped it up leaving the houseboat without looking back.

It made him feel sick to know how scared Romy had been. He looked for signs of trauma as he approached her sitting in the shade of the helicopter. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I… Um…’ She nodded, even though she hugged herself, with her eyes darting warily at her surroundings—looking for the next lurking danger, no doubt, and in the outback there were plenty. ‘What were you yelling about?’

‘At Chook for putting you in danger like that. I’m so sorry I didn’t act sooner. Here…’ He held up her camera.

Her eyes widened. ‘I forgot all about it.’

‘I’m sorry, Romy.’

‘It’s not your fault.’ She seemed to calm down with the camera in her hands, like it was a security blanket.

‘It is my fault.’ He dragged his hands over his face, as that ill feeling in his chest crackled like sheets of ice to spread across his skin. He hated that feeling.

‘Are you still up to using your drone?’ Giving her something else to focus on might calm her down.

‘You can film the east side as we head back to the quarantine station. I’m looking for sheds, humpies.

Potential hiding places for those crocodiles.

’ He wanted her to focus on something other than her near-death experience. ‘Can you do that?’

‘Yeah… No—yes, I can.’ And she was back, baby, eyes focused and her passion back in play.

The relief was enormous, as he watched the pretty little filmmaker eagerly grab her drone case from the helicopter. Finding himself too attracted to her—might explain how protective he felt about someone he’d just met.

Which had to stop and now.

Stone was done getting close to people. He didn’t have room for anyone new, and especially someone like Romy.

Stone preferred backpackers who were on a holiday with an exit date on their visas.

The longest any of them had stayed was two weeks, sparing him the deep conversations, but giving him plenty of party time to help him forget as the backpacker’s played tourist. It kept the house pets happy, and he was even happier when he got to wave them all goodbye.

Yet, the depth of emotions he felt for Romy wasn’t right.

He struggled to comprehend how or why he was feeling all this affection tangled with irritation, where desire clashed with caution, and a bone-deep fear that she might see through the walls he’d carefully built.

She’d somehow set his world spinning off balance that he was so willing to do whatever it took to protect her.

Even if he didn’t want her to, it was time for Romy to go home.