Page 54

Staring a deadly mother in the face wasn’t what Stone had expected from this quick trip with the pretty little filmmaker. But it’s what Romy wanted, and Stone never said no to her, unless it involved their safety. Then he’d play the big bad wolf.

But such is the life of a full-time sweetheart and a part-time crocodile wrangler, in love with a woman who made documentaries.

It was her passion that had him sweating bucketloads, as he tried to keep his balance while his boots sank deeper into the swampy mud, as mozzies and midges did their annoying dance around his skin.

But he couldn’t move until Romy said so.

‘Is that the spot?’

Romy, positioned behind the tree, reviewed the footage on her new tablet. ‘A little to your left.’

Stone repositioned the tiny camera a little further at the base of the tree trunk, then stepped back for Romy to play director, aiming for that clear shot. ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’

‘You volunteered.’

‘Only because I love you, and I don’t trust any other cowboy with a helicopter to do this.’

Romy smiled, and it was the sweetest smile that always made him bend to her needs. Yeah, he was a sucker in love and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Stone spotted small bubbles popping on the water’s surface—a dead giveaway. ‘Get back, Romy.’

‘But—’

‘You know the rules.’

Roomy scooped up her other camera, that was sitting on a tripod, recording their movements.

Stone hoisted the heavy pack, filled with more camera equipment, over his shoulder.

Catching up to her, he gathered up her fingers to hold her hand.

He never tired of holding her hand, in a relationship that was so effortless but incredibly rewarding.

They both agreed—and promised to Romy’s parents—that there would be no more daredevil tactics, especially when it came to dealing with crocodiles.

If one of them was uncomfortable in a situation, they’d regroup and tackle it from a different angle.

It just wasn’t worth risking their lives for a few minutes of footage, not when they had so much to live for together.

But at least Romy was getting more involved now. Chook had practically adopted her when they’d worked on his houseboat to make it safe. Where The Vegan promised to visit Chook regularly. Even if they were an odd couple, Stone knew they’d become good friends.

As for the Rowntrees, they sold Saltscale to their neighbours, to extend their operations.

Both Lenora and Celeste pleaded guilty to their charges, with Doug the security guard giving Celeste a glowing reference, holding no malice to the woman who’d given him an asthma attack. Thankfully both women escaped jail time based on their co operation with the police and their clean records.

Celeste got her half share of the sale of Saltscale as part of her divorce settlement, and moved to Queensland, with Jed and Lenora, to create a specialised crocodile hatchery, with plans to open it up for tourists with Jed playing his part as the head tour guide.

Doug and his son were joining the Rowntrees to help with security at their new crocodile farm—and he was finally going to ask the newly single Celeste out on a date.

As for Malcolm Rowntree, the last anyone heard was he’d gone to Thailand.

The fancy Federal Agricultural Commissioner, Andrew Bannon, who Stone called Big Daddy , did a video conference call to offer his congratulations to the Stock Squad on recovering the cold stock.

He also acknowledged Romy’s excellent skills with her drones, offering her a consultancy contract—just like Stone had predicted.

Yet, they all knew the elusive Stock Agent was still out there, with Finn becoming obsessive in his hunt for the guy.

In the meantime, Stone got to spend time with Romy, who’d refused to accept any money from him, with her desire to be independent, and won a grant to purchase remote cameras for her documentary.

Where he got to be her unpaid assistant, elbow-deep in the Northern Territory’s swamps to help her find the best places to film the story of the saltwater crocodile.

Jed and Lenora had given Romy full access to film Saltscale’s operations before selling the place, granting her entry to areas no outsider would normally get—especially not with a camera.

It helped Romy find that truly unique angle for her documentary to show the world—if they ever finished filming it.

Not that Stone was complaining. It was Romy’s passion to film life and Stone was more than happy to support her any way he could. Well, hell, he could afford to.

He’d do anything for the pretty little filmmaker, who no longer hid behind the camera, instead choosing to get involved in the life they shared.

Even though they’d agreed to take it slow, Romy never slept in the spare room again.

Becoming a couple happened so easily, the transition required no effort on his part.

It just was. Cowboy Craig told Stone, it was the same for him and Izzy, where you just know when you meet that special person. And for Stone, Romy was the one.

Stone tenderly stroked Romy’s hair, and she peered up at him with her beautiful brown eyes reflecting a world of wonder. Damn, she was pretty. ‘Are the cameras working?’

‘They are.’ She fiddled with the dials on her fancy tablet-like control panel. ‘We can now get a full 360-degree angle. The new motion sensors will allow us to watch the mother and her nest from the comfort of home.’

‘That was the plan. Safety first, shortcake.’ He winked at her. ‘We’ll put it up on the big screen while wallowing in the pond with Finley, so the boys can watch home movies from their pens.’ He held out his hand to her.

‘Sounds heavenly to me.’ She took his hand as he helped her up the riverbank, heading back to the helicopter parked in the nearby flood plain.

Romy paused and turned back. ‘What about the eggs? Aren’t you going to take any eggs from the nest?’

Stone glanced at the mound tucked deep in the croc grass, a rough cradle in the wild wetlands of the Northern Territory. To him, no place on Earth came close to this rare, untamed patch of paradise he called home.

‘Nah, I think this time, we’ll let nature take its course.’

THE END

For now …