Sheep are riskier these days with the wild dogs in the area.
He was practically admitting to the crime.
“Problem?” Brandon stood at the door, a mug of tea in his hands.
Darcy gestured to the screen, unable to form words.
Brandon cursed loudly as he read. “Bastards.”
They were vultures, no sharks—not waiting until the Ridge was dead before they attacked.
Stonefish knew they were getting desperate. “What do we do?”
Brandon glanced back at him. “Do you want to sell?”
Darcy jolted. Why would he ask? The Ridge had been all he’d ever wanted. But… maybe Brandon had changed his mind. If Darcy was the only sibling who wanted the Ridge, was it fair of him to hold on to it? “Do you?” He ran a hand through his hair and breathed out, trying to settle the anger.
“No. I told you that.” Brandon perched on the edge of the desk. “But have you had enough, Darce? You were stuck here helping Dad while I was in the army. Do you want to leave and try something new?”
Darcy’s immediate reaction was to refuse, but he took a second to consider it. Was he being closed-minded, somewhat provincial? Should he investigate other opportunities, something which might be better for Lara, for himself?
He’d been to the city once, when Georgie moved there for university. His mother needed his support because she’d been emotional about her youngest baby moving out of home. He’d hated every second. The traffic, the noise, the people surrounding him, but not one of them acknowledging his existence with a smile or a hello. All the light and buildings everywhere made him claustrophobic, and he couldn’t wait to get back into the car and drive home.
The station life was all he’d ever wanted, but he had Lara to consider too.
“Darce?”
He blew out a breath. “No. This is home.”
Satisfied, Brandon said, “Then do we respond to this asshole?”
“Faith offered to read the cattle contract. She said there might be a way to get the money back.” He smiled as he remembered her enthusiasm for Lara’s tales of buried treasure. Maybe she could be his avenging pirate.
“That would be a miracle. Have you sent it to her?”
“Taking her a copy tomorrow.”
“All right. Then let’s ignore the email until we hear from her.” He clapped Darcy’s shoulder. “You all good?”
Darcy nodded, as nausea returned. When Brandon left, he reviewed the figures, the number of sheep, the feed and remaining fuel, and the nausea worsened. At best, they had three months. Then they’d have to sell their allocated sheep to the abattoir, which would give them another boost of funds, but they’d lost a lot of their next flock with the pregnant ewes being slaughtered. So they’d have to buy more, which would eat into any money earned. And oh, yeah, there was the bottomless pit of debt to pay back too.
He swore. Cattle was supposed to be their way forward—not as susceptible to predators and with a strong market. He’d done all the research, chosen the Droughtmaster breed, called a few people for advice. Livestock and Gear had the best value. He paused, goosebumps leaping to his skin. They’d sent him marketing material late last year, but someone later recommended it to him. Who? His heart beating fast, he made a list of everyone he remembered chatting to and then pored through his emails to find the recommendation in writing. Nothing.
All he found was the paid invoice with the multi-six-figure sum staring back at him. Darcy’s father hadn’t told him he’d bought the cattle. Brandon had discovered it when they’d gone through their papers and realised there was no money left.
He closed his eyes, the sick feeling in his gut returning as strong as when Brandon had rung the number on the website, and they’d realised they’d been conned.
He breathed past the nausea.
Whoever had recommended the company might have lost their order too. Perhaps they had a different contact.
Or maybe they’d been working for Stonefish like Taylor. He frowned. Had their ex-station hand recommended the site?
Damn it, he couldn’t remember. He’d have to chat to Matt about it tomorrow.
He rubbed the ache at his temple. It was late. Nothing more he could do tonight.
With a sigh, he took himself off to bed.
