Читать книгу From Orchards to Outback - Tracey Friday - Страница 17

After an early breakfast, Maggie, Sylvia and Jack walked down to the stables carrying enough provisions to last them all day. Sylvia continually mumbled under her breath that she could be doing something more useful for the day instead of being a ‘tour guide’.

“It’ll be good to get back in the saddle again,” said Maggie excitedly, “haven’t ridden in months.”

“You’ll enjoy the ride, Maggie,” smiled Jack, “it’s lovely down at the far paddocks but it can be draining in the heat. We know a good spot to rest up for smoko and lunch, right Sylvia?”

“Right,” she sighed.

“Blue will come along too,” he said, as his faithful kelpie bounded up beside him.

“Blue?” smiled Maggie, as she looked questionably at the kelpie, “but his coat is red!”

“Yep.”

They laughed together while Sylvia again rolled her eyes. Maggie studied the brother and sister as they entered the stable yard ahead of her. Jack was the elder by three years, but Sylvia looked so much older and behaved more like a boy than a girl. She also came across as very unfriendly. Maggie thought that she could be quite pretty, if she smiled once in a while instead of scowling, and she sensed there was a great deal of tension between the siblings. They seemed more like reluctant colleagues than kin.

Jack, on the other hand, looked heart-melting in his stockman gear as he towered above her at over six feet. He was as handsome and masculine and muscly as they came, and Maggie envisioned his big strong arms around her, which caused her to blush.

Stop it, just stop it, she thought, it must be the heat.

He had a cheeky smile and she blushed again when her eyes wandered over his perfectly firm behind. This is madness, she thought, she needed to settle down and fast. Concentrate on Sylvia, Blue or the horses and stop thinking of Jack in this way, she chastised herself.

He was her employer and was about to be engaged and she was here solely for working and starting a new life. Nonetheless, she was a young woman and appreciated just how handsome he was, and nothing altered the fact that he had a damn fine behind.

“How many horses do you have here?” questioned Maggie, trying to be serious.

“We have ten stockhorses at the moment but have room for fifteen.” He smiled. “Stockhorses are amusing?” he asked.

“No,” she blushed, “just thought of something silly, don’t mind me. May I help out in the stables?”

“That’ll be good Maggie, as a jillaroo that will be part of your role, but we’ll go through that another day.”

“Sounds good to me. Now which is my horse for today?”

“Gravel!” replied Sylvia gleefully, as she quickly wandered over to a stall and started to saddle up.

Woman of few words, thought Maggie but at least she was talking.

“NO!” scolded Jack, “YOU take Gravel and Maggie will have Dingo.” He looked daggers at his sister. “Maggie,” he said more gently, “I will show you how to saddle up as we may do it a little differently to what you’re used to.”

Maggie was slightly perplexed about what had just happened between the brother and sister as she wandered over to Jack to watch how he saddled up. He explained things clearly and talked her through. When he had finished, he unsaddled so he could watch her from the beginning to check she was doing it correctly. With all the horses saddled and riders mounted they slowly made their way out of the stable and down to the water trough.

“Hi Maggie,” said Sid, as she passed him by the stable door.

“Hi Sid.” She leant over quickly and whispered to him, “Sylvia wanted to give me Gravel, what’s wrong with him?” Sid’s horrified expression was enough to confirm Jack’s response earlier. “Thanks Sid, see you later.” She gently tapped Dingo’s side with her heel to catch up with the others. It seemed it would be an interesting day, she would stay on alert around Sylvia.

Maggie was enjoying the ride. The scenery, the last time she had ridden, had been so different. She missed the soft lush green grass of the apple orchards. The grass here was harder and bristly. As they passed beyond the greenery the terrain changed to much the same as when she had travelled in with Mrs Heppler and Emily.

“It must be quite a challenge to muster out here,” she said.

“It is but you get used to it and the horses know the land very well. You need to have your wits about you though Maggie; cannot afford to have a lame horse out here, could mean the difference between life and death. There are potholes, stones, dingoes, roos, anthills and sheltering snakes. You need to trust your horse too; you build up a relationship and get to know how the other works. You respect your horse and you will get respect in return.

“We will assign you your own horse in good time, I’ve a couple in mind. Dingo is one, that’s who you have today. See how you go.

“Sorry to go into a lecture but I cannot emphasise enough the importance that you do not ride out in the bush on your own, it can be very dangerous. Not only for you but also for the people coming out to search for you if you don’t arrive back when expected and they don’t know your location. I’ve seen how someone’s stupidity and failure in not reporting their whereabouts can cause another’s death. We have strict rules on the Station and as head stockman I expect everyone to abide by them. If not, then they are out. No second chances.”

“Thanks Jack, I understand,” she said, taking heed, “so, what was the problem with Gravel back there?”

“Gravel is a bit of a maverick, Maggie. He’s too temperamental for you.”

“I’m a good rider. I can hold my own,” she said defensively.

“I dare say you can, but until I see that for myself, Gravel is off limits. I am responsible for the safety of all staff here and I ask that you trust me on this. Okay?”

“Understood.”

Smoko was a little awkward with Jack trying to make conversation sometimes to bridge the silence and frostiness caused by Sylvia. They rode on for another hour with Blue taking a break and sitting up behind Jack enjoying the ride. Maggie was impressed that he managed to balance so well. Shortly afterwards, Jack said it was time they made their way back and after a couple of hours they dismounted to give the horses a break and to have some lunch.

They stopped under the shade of a huge gum tree where they fed and watered Blue and the horses. Jack said that the gum was an important landmark and stated that it was imperative to always be observant to surroundings when out in the bush as it was so easy to get disorientated. He pointed out the unique markings and shapes of some of the branches so that Maggie would be able to recognise the gum in the future. It was a popular stopping point because of the shelter it provided. Going due south from this point would take around three hours to ride back to the homestead and on the way back home Jack said he would point out some other landmarks if Maggie ever lost her compass or found it hard to navigate by the sun or stars.

Maggie was growing quite tiresome of Sylvia’s whole attitude and her inaudible mutterings. She was fully aware that she was new here, but damn if she could stand this for much longer as she tried to calm her irritation. It was spoiling what was otherwise a good day.

Jack passed Maggie a thermos of tea and some tucker. As Maggie sipped her tea she indicated toward the barbed wire fence that kept the sheep within a certain area.

“It must take a lot of work to maintain the fencing and to make sure it is all intact.”

“It does,” he replied, “It takes many man-hours to check the boundaries and paddock fencing. Expensive too as the fence goes as far as the eye can see. It’s backbreaking work digging and replacing the posts. We put teams together who go out on a rotational basis, sometimes they camp out for a few days to get the work done.”

Before Maggie could reply, Sylvia asked abruptly, “What on earth are you doing here anyway? We don’t want or need you here.”

“Excuse me?”

“Watch your mouth Sylvia,” spat Jack.

“It’s a free country. It’s a simple question,” Sylvia said defiantly.

Okay, thought Maggie. Her dander was well and truly up. But, instead of an argument she decided to turn it around. She knew that if she let Sylvia bully her from the beginning then there would be no going back.

“Sylvia!” she exclaimed, as she sat round to look at the woman, “welcome to the conversation. It’s good to know you can string a sentence together, however rude it may be. I won’t insult your alleged intelligence by even giving that comment a reply.”

Sylvia stared at Maggie, not expecting this response at all. She had mistakenly taken Maggie for being quite timid. Jack sat back and drank his tea, instantly feeling comfortable knowing that Maggie could handle his sister.

“Don’t beat around the bush,” Maggie continued, “you have been mumbling under your breath ever since we set off, not forgetting your plan with Gravel. If you have some beef with me, spit it out now. I’m here to stay and have qualifications to help on the Station. Don’t you ever dare judge me without having the courtesy to get to know me better first.”

Sylvia looked like a rabbit in headlights and for once, was completely lost for words.

“And… since you started it,” Maggie was on a roll, “I will say this back to you. For your information, I have already seen how the Station could save perhaps thousands of pounds.”

Jack sat back up and looked at her in surprise as she pointed to the endless boundary fences.

“The fences keep out the dingoes, right? You could get rid of them all and just put up photographs of you… exactly the way you are looking at me at this very moment. That would be enough to deter them.”

Jack nearly choked on his tea and Sylvia looked completely stunned as she angrily threw her tea to the side and slammed the cup to the ground. She stormed off, mounted her horse and rode away.

“Sorry, Jack. I know she’s your sister, but she asked for it and when I am backed into a corner I tend to come out fighting,” Maggie said, shrugging her shoulders.

“I’ll remember that Maggie,” he smiled and held up his hands in mock surrender. He admired her spirit, it was very attractive. “Not many have had the balls to do what you just did and live to tell the tale,” he said. “She’ll come around eventually, but seriously in the meantime, watch your back. I know my sister, she won’t take that lightly. At least we’ll have a peaceful journey home. More tea?”

“I feel bad now. I shouldn’t have said that last bit. Yes, thank you,” she said, as she held out her cup.

“Don’t feel bad, she dished it out and she wrongly chose you as a target. The important thing Maggie is that you are very much welcome and wanted here and you already fit in perfectly. Remember that.”

“Thanks Jack, that means a lot.”

“One other thing,” he said, giving a sultry wink, “How much do photographers cost?”

They both fell about laughing.

Sylvia had galloped on ahead. How dare she? She couldn’t believe that little Miss England had the audacity to talk to her like that… although, if she was completely honest, it was quite a clever insult. Sylvia even managed a hint of a smile as Maggie’s sense of humour quite appealed to her.

Maggie was mentally and physically exhausted when they returned early in the evening. After taking care of the horses they headed up to the homestead. Maggie’s back was aching and her behind beyond numb. Serves me right for going on about Jack’s behind earlier, she thought. She felt too tired to eat but managed a sandwich and it took all her strength to have a quick bath before falling into bed where she was asleep before she hit the pillow.

The next morning Maggie was as stiff as a frozen rat up a drainpipe. She tried to walk as normally as possible when she entered the kitchen for breakfast where the looks, jeers and whistles from the stockmen told her otherwise.

“Glad you all think it’s funny,” she smiled.

“Not as fast as a bullet today!” teased Mellow.

“Good one, Mellow,” Maggie smiled then winced as she sat down gingerly.

“Discovered muscles you didn’t know you had Maggie?” joked Dusty.

“Just a few,” she replied, liking the banter.

“You’ll get used to it Maggie,” said Ted, “believe you are helping me in the stables today, up for it?”

“I’ll do my best, although I’ll be a little slower than usual. Could you do me a favour?”

“Sure, what’s that?”

She held up her boots. “Having a little trouble getting these on my feet this morning.”

Everyone laughed. When the kitchen cleared and just the women remained, Maggie asked, “How’s Emily this morning?”

“Just going to check on her, care to come along?” said Mrs Heppler.

“Yes, I’d like to. Thought she might be at the table this morning, is she okay?”

“She’s doing just grand, just felt more tired today that’s all. Come on.”

As they walked slowly down the corridor to Emily’s room, Maggie asked quietly, “Mrs Heppler?”

“Yes love.”

“Is there something I should know about Sylvia?”

Mrs Heppler raised her eyebrows.

“She wanted to give me Gravel when we went out yesterday.”

Mrs Heppler’s eyebrows rose some more in astonishment and Maggie wondered if they could go up any further.

“Gravel eh? Look, Maggie. Keep your wits about you. Sylvia is a strange one, but you’ll get used to her. She takes a little longer than most to accept someone new around here that’s all. But using Gravel is different.” She pondered a moment. “What did Jack say?”

“He said no straight away and said she should have Gravel and he gave me Dingo.” Then Maggie told Mrs Heppler what else was said and Mrs Heppler looked at Maggie in wonder.

“You said that to her?” she laughed, “that’s the spirit, feisty little thing, aren’t you? But I’m concerned regarding Gravel, that’s spiteful. Sylvia won’t take yesterday lightly, and you will need to watch your back…”

“Jack said that too. She means me harm, doesn’t she? What did I do in the first place to deserve that?”

“Simply that you are new, that’s all. I’ll keep an extra potato on her as well.”

“Potato?”

“Eye, love. Eye. You know? Potatoes have eyes? Come on keep up,” she said, as they arrived at Emily’s room. “Leave it with me Maggie, I’ll have a word.”

“Thank you, but I don’t wish you to fight my battles Mrs Heppler. On this occasion it may make things worse. I can sort this, was just asking for your advice.”

“I know you can look out for yourself Maggie, but sometimes things just need a small helping hand. Trust me, I know her.” And with that the women entered the room.

“You are looking much better.” Maggie smiled at Emily.

“Thanks Maggie, I feel that I am getting stronger by the day,” she said, smiling back.

“Is that down to good rest, good food or perhaps tea on the verandah with a certain big strong man?” joked Maggie and Emily blushed. “I knew it, I knew it,” she said excitedly. “Tell me everything,” she said, as she plonked herself on the edge of the bed then winced again when she remembered how stiff she was.

“Looks like you’re the invalid today,” teased Emily and with that Mrs Heppler said she’d leave them to their ‘young talk’. She briefly stopped outside the door enjoying hearing the laughter between them. It warmed her heart that they had found one another. Perhaps Emily would be prepared to stay after all?

She tried not to get her hopes up too much regarding Emily staying on at the Station. It was hard taking a step back, but there were occasions when all she had wanted to do was to press Emily for a decision. She had to bide her time and hope for the best.