The Stockman's Secret Read online

  ‘Of course, Firecracker,’ he lied. ‘You’ve always wanted to be a teacher, so who am I to stop you from reaching your dream?’ He placed a lingering kiss on her lips as he eased her back to the ground. ‘We’ll be right. Long distance won’t matter a bit.’

  Her hands slipped from his shoulders. ‘It’s not really long distance,’ she offered with a little shrug. ‘I can drive here, and you can come visit me. Any time, day or night.’

  ‘When we’re not studying, or working, or …’ At the hurt flashing in her eyes, he stopped himself from going further into the negative, a habit that frustrated her at times. ‘But yeah, of course we can, all the time. What’s four years anyway? We’ve got this.’

  ‘You’re the best boyfriend ever, Joel Hunter. Thank you for being so awesome.’

  ‘I do my best.’ He puffed out his chest and forced a gallant grin. ‘And you are the most awesome girlfriend ever.’ He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, imagining her as his wife and himself as her husband.

  ‘Naw. I love you, so much.’

  ‘I love you, too, Jules, always and forever.’ It hit him that he didn’t need to curb his plans, just tweak them a little. Their love would get them through the next few years. God was just testing them. The new awareness buoyed him.

  Juliette pushed up on her tippy toes and pressed another strawberry-glossed kiss upon his lips. When she sank back down to the earth, she flashed him a familiar challenging grin. ‘How about the first one to our secret spot scores a foot rub?’

  ‘Even though I’m always giving you foot rubs.’ His swooning heart skipping beats, Joel matched her grin. ‘You’re on like Donkey Kong, Jules.’

  ‘On like Donkey Kong?’ She chuckled. ‘My goodness, Joel Hunter, you’re so darn groovy, I can’t handle it.’ With a wide smile, she lingered for a moment before clapping her hands. ‘Right then, race ya to the finishing line!’ Competitiveness flashed in her eyes as she spun in her thongs and took off, long black hair swishing around her waist, her turquoise boho-style dress floating at her ankles.

  ‘Oi, no fair! You got a head start,’ Joel called after her playfully.

  ‘Come on and catch up, you slow coach,’ she teased, her laughter hanging heavily on the air.

  Joel chuckled at her exuberance. She always made him feel acutely alive, and so very loved. She was beautiful, ethereal – his very own gift from the heavens. With beads of sweat trickling down his back, he trailed her swiftly, weaving through the thicket of trees and scrub towards the gurgles of Little Heart River. The river bordered and divided three properties – Hunter Farmstead, all of two hundred acres, the opulent Davis Horse Stud, close to nine hundred acres with a sprawling homestead and classy stables to boot, and Juliette’s parents’ house on a humble five acres. Juliette and her parents had moved there six years ago, when she was almost twelve, from a cramped flat behind the church. Word was the property had been a bribe from Ron and Margery Davis, but for what, Joel had never bothered to ask. He didn’t believe the tale. Gossip was the devil’s tongue, his mother always said. He just thanked his lucky stars that they were virtually neighbours and they got to see each other a lot more than when she lived in town.

  A full moon shimmered against the velvet black of night, spilling silvery light over the worn path they’d taken many times before. Clearing a fallen tree trunk just in the nick of time, he patted his back pockets, making sure the ring and the key were still safe and secure. He was still going to offer both to her – it was her choice what happened after that. His heart flip-flopped at the thought of her walking down the aisle to him, and then afterwards, to the very first time he and Juliette would make love, both waiting until fully committed.

  Juliette’s squeals of laughter carried from up ahead, bringing him back to the present. In the thick of the shadows, the path turned sharply, and he cornered it perfectly, the thicket of native trees finally giving way to a small clearing that was home to their small part of Little Heart River – their special spot. It always would be. One day, they’d bring their children here, to share it as a family. Just up ahead, Juliette was kneeling at the edge of the river, scooping up handfuls of the water lazily travelling over the rocky riverbed. She and the stream were lit up, dreamlike, by the silvery moonlight.

  Hearing him approach, she looked over her shoulder, grinning. ‘About time you showed up. I thought you’d gone and got yourself lost.’

  ‘Oh, hardy-ha-ha, Little Miss Comedian.’ Beaming from ear to ear, Joel fought to catch his breath as he looked to where Ben would most probably be hiding, ready to film the special moment with his video camera. A quick thumbs up from the shadows let him know they were good to go. ‘You’re lucky to have a boyfriend like me, who gives you a head start and then lets you win,’ he said a little less breathlessly.

  ‘Pull the other one, Hunter. I beat you, fair and square.’ She gave him the forks and he grinned wickedly. ‘Now you owe me an even longer foot rub than I usually get.’

  ‘Talk about a bloody slave driver.’ Joel playfully groaned. ‘But if I have to …’ He loved being able to touch her soft skin, so it was no chore to rub her feet.

  Somewhere in the line-up of the huge paperbark trees that hugged the river’s banks, a barn owl screeched. Seconds later, its mate replied.

  Joel glanced upwards. ‘Man, oh man, they sound eerie.’

  ‘They do, huh.’ Standing, Juliette joined him in trying to spot the birds. ‘But I love how they mate for life.’ She looked back at him. ‘So romantic, don’t you think?’

  ‘Damn straight it’s romantic.’ His passion stirred by the privacy granted by the bushlands surrounding them, he grabbed the perfect moment to do what he came here for.

  Offering him a delicate smile filled with love, Juliette regarded the trees once more.

  Lightheaded with anticipation, Joel dropped to his knees.

  Turning her attention back to him, Juliette tilted her head, bewildered. ‘What are you doing?’ She looked to the ground. ‘Did you drop something?’ She fell to her knees, ready to help him.

  Unable to get a word out for the lump of emotion stuck in his throat, Joel just shook his head. He’d practised a huge speech at length, one filled with sentiment, but now, in the heat of the moment, he was finding it hard to string a sentence together.

  Come on, pull it together, Hunter.

  Juliette took his hand, her gaze deeply concerned. ‘Joel, is everything okay?’

  ‘Uh-huh.’ He fleetingly glanced to the blanket of stars, glittering like millions of crystals, before bringing his teary gaze back to the love of his life. Then, with a deep inhalation, he went to his back pocket, plucked out his grandmother’s ring, and flicked the box open. ‘Juliette Kern, will you do me the absolute honour of marrying me?’ He held his breath.

  ‘Oh my goodness! Joel …’ Juliette’s lips quivered into a happy smile, but before she could answer, heavy footfalls sounded.

  They appeared out of nowhere.

  CHAPTER

  2

  A split-second’s notice was all that Joel got, yet it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. Helpless to the brute force of the three burly Muller brothers, he didn’t have time to pull Juliette to safety, or throw his arms up in defence. He watched in horror as a hand went across Juliette’s mouth as she was yanked to her feet, eyes wide with fear. As he rose to save her, a sharp blow to the back of his head sent him hurtling to the ground like a ragdoll, the thud knocking the wind right out of him. Juliette cried out. The ring and the velvet box went flying. The world spun nauseatingly as everything around him went in and out of focus.

  In a world of pain, and with something dripping into his eyes, Joel grabbed the side of his head and pulled his hand away to find it covered in blood – his blood. Woozy as hell, he fought to stand but strong hands gripped him, flipped him, and dragged him backwards, away from Juliette. The strong stench of rum and marijuana haze was exhaled into his face. Dazed and terrified, he tried to get up again, but he was
held down. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard someone was laughing. He knew that malicious laugh, could pick it out a mile away – he’d been the target of it many a time.

  The steel-cap toe of a boot met his ribs, hard, three times, and an elbow crushed down upon his chest. Then a blade came to his throat, the very point of it piercing his flesh.

  His ribs felt broken and he needed to cough but Joel stayed stock-still, meeting the steely eyes of Desmond Muller, the second oldest of the brothers. Desmond had bullied him for as long as he could remember – a school suspension and the anti-bullying classes they’d been forced to attend had done nothing but fuel their fire and cause a massive rift between their fathers. Near him but out of reach, Juliette’s pleading was tearing shreds from his heart.

  His heart was trying to bash its way out of his chest, but the blade pressed forebodingly into his throat, trapping him. Joel prayed to god they didn’t discover Ben hiding in the bushes, if he was still there. Ben was a computer geek from way back – a lover, not a fighter – without a hope in hell of saving himself if they got their hands on him.

  ‘Have you all lost your damn minds?’ Joel growled through gritted teeth. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing, Des?’

  ‘Move an inch, Hunter, and I’ll slit your damn throat and send you to heaven nice and early. Your pretty little girlfriend can watch.’ Desmond Muller gestured to Juliette with a tip of his head. Joel watched in horror as Levi Muller – the oldest brother and the spitting image of his hostile father – man-handled Juliette.

  The fear and humiliation Joel had felt the day he was dragged off his pushbike all came crashing back. Pain shot through his body. He knew he needed to be the man he felt he’d become and save Juliette, like she’d saved him that awful day, but with the knife holding him to ransom and a stout Muller boy on either side, he couldn’t get to her. And if he tried, he was afraid they’d hurt her even more.

  As he weighed up his limited options, his focus wavering as if beneath water, his arms were grabbed and twisted at awkward angles behind his back. Zip ties were wrapped around his wrists and ankles, excruciatingly tight, and he watched as the same was done to Juliette.

  He shouted, ‘It’s me you want to hurt, and I’m all yours. Let her go, Levi.’

  The red-headed giant glared in his direction, his lips curled into a sickening smirk. ‘Come on over here and make me, Hunter.’

  ‘I bloody well would if I wasn’t tied up with a knife to my throat. You need your brothers to protect you from me?’ Joel knew he didn’t stand a chance in hell going up against these three bullies, but he’d damn well die trying if it meant protecting Juliette.

  With a smug smirk, Levi shoved Juliette into his younger brother. ‘Take care of her for a minute, would you? And shut her up while you’re at it.’

  Jackson Muller jumped to his brother’s command, and Levi stepped towards Joel, stopping just short of him.

  With Jackson’s hand clamped tightly over her mouth, Juliette’s cries were muffled, but they still tore at Joel’s heart. He tried to see her, but Levi’s bulk blocked his line of vision. ‘I’m so sorry, Jules.’ He should have been able to stop them, to protect her.

  ‘Did you hear that, Juliette?’ Levi sneered. ‘Your hero boyfriend here is sorry he’s a big wuss and can’t help you.’

  ‘How in the hell did you know we were down here?’ Joel demanded. The only people who knew were his mum and dad, Ben and Zoe.

  Levi picked at something beneath his fingernails as he sucked air through his teeth. ‘Your little sister told someone, who told someone else, who came and told us.’ He threw his arms up, his smile unnervingly wide. ‘And voila. Here we all are.’

  ‘Why are you doing this, Muller?’

  Levi’s eyes narrowed as he squatted and shoved his face a mere inch from Joel’s. ‘For years, I’ve watched you get everything you want without even trying.’ He jabbed him in the chest with a stubby finger. ‘Enough’s enough.’

  Joel was gobsmacked. ‘I don’t know what you’re on about. I’ve worked hard for everything I have.’ None of this made any sense. He strained to catch a glimpse of Juliette before Levi grabbed his jaw and squeezed it tight.

  ‘Shut your damn trap, Hunter,’ he snarled. ‘You nabbed the one girl I’ve fancied ever since I knew what the yearnings in my jocks were about, and all because butter wouldn’t melt in your saintly little mouth.’

  Joel huffed, almost laughed in his face. ‘Like you’d ever have a shot with her. Juliette and I love each other. Get over yourself, Muller.’

  ‘What a load of shit.’ Levi half-laughed. ‘Juliette just doesn’t know what’s good for her. She’s not sickly sweet and boring like you religious lot, even though that’s what she tries to make people believe. I see the fire in her belly and that wicked spark in her eyes. She’s got a wild child begging to be brought out and I’m not gonna sit back and let you bore her to fucking tears with that picket-fence lifestyle.’

  ‘You’re insane,’ Joel heard Juliette spit. ‘I’d never fall for a scumbag like you. Stop wasting our bloody time and let us go.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Levi looked over his shoulder to where Jackson had his arm clamped around Juliette’s throat. She glared back at him, dark eyes wild. ‘What do you think, Hunter? Maybe I should give her a little taste of what she’s going to miss out on by choosing the likes of you over a real man.’

  Red rage washed over Joel, the pure fury surging through him an overwhelming sensation he’d never felt before. ‘What in the hell do you mean? Don’t you touch her!’

  Levi snickered, standing and looking between his younger brothers. ‘You two keep him quiet. If he makes a noise or pulls any funny business, shut him the hell up and teach him a damn good lesson.’

  Pushing Juliette to Levi, Jackson grinned. ‘Gladly.’

  ‘We got your back, bro,’ Desmond added.

  Levi sent Juliette to the ground with one backhand slap.

  The sound of her body slamming against the earth, and the loud whoosh of her breath, seemed to ricochet around Joel. Panic seized him and he desperately tried to free his hands from the zip ties. ‘Get away from her, you son of a bitch.’

  With a sneer, Jackson slammed his boot into Joel’s ribs. ‘Shut the hell up, Hunter.’

  Standing over him, arms folded, Desmond planted his feet wide apart, his smirk unholy. ‘Hey, altar boy, do you think god’s going to swoop in and miraculously save you both?’

  ‘Go to hell, you sick bastards.’ Believing with all his might that god would somehow save them from this, Joel silently prayed harder than he’d ever prayed before while Levi pinned Juliette to the ground beneath his bear-like weight, her struggling ceasing with the glint of the knife.

  ‘Hey there, sweetness.’ Straddling her, Levi opened his pocketknife with a sneer, flipped his cap backwards and leant into her, his massive bulk shielding the moonlight from her face. ‘So, tell me. Am I right? Are you made of sugar and spice and all things nice, or is there a little bit of the devil inside of you?’

  Her eyes clamped shut, Juliette turned her face away from him, whimpering.

  ‘You’re gonna pay big time if you hurt her, Levi.’ Joel struggled against the two sets of hands pinning him down, the blade of the knife nicking his throat again in the process. It felt deeper this time, though the pain from it was the least of his problems.

  ‘I won’t be paying for anything.’ His meaty fist forming a pistol – thumb cocked and index finger pointed at Joel – Levi snorted cynically. ‘So shut your damn mouth, Hunter, or I’m going to hurt her real bad.’

  Juliette whimpered, her lips clamped shut.

  Joel eyed his enemy as if he wanted to kill him with his bare hands. And he was afraid that if he wasn’t tied up, he very possibly would. His wits were all he had right now, so he had to take the risk and play to Levi’s bluff. ‘Oh come on, Levi. You’re not going to do anything more stupid than you already have. We all know that.’

  ‘Do we, Hu
nter?’ Levi spat.

  ‘Yeah, we do,’ Joel ploughed on. ‘Because there’s not a hope in hell of you becoming a doctor if you have a criminal record.’

  ‘Just let us go now,’ Juliette put in. His brave girl looked dazed but suddenly determined. ‘We can forget about the whole thing.’

  Levi’s evil expression turned all the more menacing. ‘And just how am I going to get a criminal record if none of you are going to be able to blab to the coppers?’

  Joel remained silent as his heart sank. That threat had been his trump card and it had failed.

  ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ The atmosphere thickened as Levi clamped Juliette to the ground. He unzipped his jeans, the tautness of his underpants revealing just how much he was enjoying all of this.

  Mortified, terrified for her, Joel cried out something incomprehensible.

  Juliette bucked against Levi as he sliced at her dress. Joel froze as she screamed out. ‘You’ve cut me, you bastard.’

  ‘That’ll teach you to stay still, Juliette,’ Levi shot back.

  ‘Enough, bro.’ Desmond took a step forwards. ‘This shit ain’t funny anymore.’

  ‘Yeah, Levi. Don’t do it.’ Jackson’s voice quavered, although he held the knife steadfast against Joel’s throat. ‘We don’t want any trouble with the cops. Dad will have our heads if the pigs turn up at his door.’

  ‘I fucking know that, and I also know they fucking won’t.’ Levi shot them both a warning glint. ‘Back off, little brothers.’

  Like obedient mongrels, Desmond and Jackson did as they were told, but their fear was tangible. It gave Joel a smidgen of hope that there was some way out of this.

  Levi opened the top half of Juliette’s dress. ‘Nice red bra, sugarplum.’ He licked his lips, running his fingers beneath the lace. ‘I might just have to have a little taste of those beauties.’ Levi’s free hand muffled Juliette’s sobs as she continued to buck beneath the weight of him. Levi just laughed as he wrestled her into submission.