Page 28 of No Strings

Morgan hears my approach. She’s kneeling by the head of the heifer, stroking it. “We have to do something.” She turns to look at me. “Rhys, no.”

Throwing herself at me when I ignore her. Esky follows her lead and starts barking at me. I don’t like this much either, but it’s honestly the best thing I can do for it.

“This is the most humane way.” I pick up the rifle and rest the butt against my shoulder.

“There has to be another way.”

I lean my head over to line up.

“We’re thirty minutes from the homestead, and another two and a half hours from the nearest town.” I pull in a deepbreath and as I exhale, “This is all we can offer her.” I squeeze the trigger.

The air quickly fills with the scent of gun powder, as the bang ricochets around us.

“You’re an animal!” She hisses.

With everything that is going on, the guilt of what I just did, the guilt of almost fucking kissing my best friend’s sister and wanting to do it again, plus all the other day to day bullshit, I snap, “This is a fucking working cattle station, what in the hell do you expect happens around here? If you haven’t noticed, we are so removed from civilisation. I did the only thing I could.”

“Shooting it?” Her voice rises but cracks ever so slightly. I think I would have missed it if we weren’t glaring at each other.

“Yes!” I yell out. I hate myself as soon as I raise my voice, but instead of flinching or backing down, she goes toe to toe with me, her eyes ablaze with hate.

“You’re a heartless fucking prick.”

“Whatever you say.” I pause. “Princess.”

I walk back to the buggy, and she throws one more jab through clenched teeth, “I hate you.”

“Feeling is fucking mutual, get your ass back in the car.”

I throw the gun back in the back while Morgan scoops up Esky and climbs back into the passenger seat, sitting as close to the door as possible.

Fine by me.

Chapter Eight

MORGAN

For the rest of the day and night, Rhys and I openly ignore each other. We get looks from everyone, but no one questions it. Well, Beau does. “Lovers spat?”

Rhys smacks him up the side of the head and I add him to the list of people I’m ignoring. Ok so I’m playing hard and fast with the term ‘List’.

The next morning, before jobs are delegated out, Brent tells everyone that the last two jack-a-roo’s are arriving today. As soon as Brent utters those words, my warden, I mean Rhys, literally drags me to the buggy. I protest and naturally tell him to go fuck himself.

“One of the jack-a-roo’s arriving today—I don’t know him. So, I don’t trust him. So, you’re with me again.”

“I’m not a child.” I partially spit out.

“Then stop acting like one.”

When he turns his back to me, I flip him off. Which is probably making his point. He has taken this whole ‘must look after Morgan’ thing very seriously, and it’s pissing meoff.

I only found Esky three days ago, and she already follows me everywhere.

Rhys rolls his eyes when I pick her up and put her in the buggy with me. I packed her a water bowl and extra water.

We’ve been out for half the day when the satellite phone rings.

“Yeah?” What a nice way to say hello. “Alright. We’re out by bubble-o-bill. Yeah. See ya.”