As they lumped their way over the valley, they saw smoke drifting up lazily from an afternoon campfire. Heading towards it, they found the bulk of the cattlemen camped over by a river bend on a large bare area of ground.
‘No sign of the cattle,’ Kelvin said, scanning the scene. ‘Looks as if they want to play funny buggers with us and they’ve hidden them.’
There was no sign of Emily either, thought Luke, as he surveyed the campers and scanned the horses for a sight of his young gelding.
‘Stick around while the cattlemen are interviewed by the police, then you’ll have to go and look for the cattle. If we can’t locate them, we can’t fine them.’ Kelvin sighed and shook his head, his bearded jaw clenching. ‘Ignorant mongrels. Now remember, boys, be professional at all times. Say as little as possible to them.’
Luke noticed that the cattlemen barely glanced up from what they were doing. Some men boiled billies, others sat around the fire drinking tea or beer. Some of the women, hot from a day in the saddle, were towel drying their river-wet hair after a swim. They didn’t look like a bunch of protesters. More like people comfortable with each other, and the land.
Rod Flanaghan stepped forward. ‘Afternoon, gentlemen.’
A young policeman tipped back his hat and nodded, while the older rotund sergeant with a clipboard returned Rod’s greeting. Luke stood in his khaki cluster of colleagues and listened.
‘We have reason to believe you have cattle on a designated VPP area,’ the sergeant said. ‘This is an illegal offence and such an action would constitute a fine of $1000 per head for the owner.’
‘You have to find the cattle before you can fine us,’ Bob said. Rod cast him a glance to silence him.
‘Don’t play smart with me,’ said the sergeant. ‘We know there are cattle here. Who owns the cattle and how many are there?’
‘If there are cattle, they’d be owned by each and every person here. And if you want to find out how many, I suggest you count them yourself,’ said the Cattlemen’s Association president, who stood next to Rod.
‘How many cattle are here?’ the sergeant asked again, while Kelvin Grimsley gave an audible huff of disgust.
‘I think you’ll find the ear mark is different on each hypothetical beast and if you want the owners of the hypothetical cattle, you’ll have to take the names and addresses of everyone at this camp,’ the president said.
The policeman nodded and handed his clipboard to the president.
‘I want all the names and addresses listed. If cattle are found in the park, each person will be charged accordingly.’
‘Certainly, sir,’ said the president.
In silence, each man, woman and child wrote their name willingly on the paper. The Parks men looked on. Luke could feel their nerves settling now they could see the group weren’t interested in conflict.
Luke wondered how many dollars and man-hours had been spent on trying to calm this storm in a teacup? Wouldn’t government money and energy have been better spent on the land itself?
Hidden in the trees, Emily and Rousie kept watch on the cattle. Next to her Bonus was dozing, his head dropped, lip hanging, back foot hooked upright, Emily holding onto his reins while she listened out for vehicles or voices. Not far away, Flo was keeping watch, gazing out over the ti-tree to the river flats below.
The plan was to keep the cattle out of the rangers’ sight until morning. On dark, they’d find a flat spot and run some solar-electric tape round the cattle to keep them contained overnight, but for the time being they’d keep them on the move. Tomorrow, at dawn, they would drive the cattle up the steep bridle track to the east of the valley and onto the edge of the Park to a logging road, where portable yards and a semitrailer would be waiting to cart the cattle back to their respective owners.
‘Rawhide one, are you on channel?’ came a familiar voice.
Sam? Sam! Emily couldn’t believe it. He’d been adamant that he was staying home. She was thrilled to hear his voice. Finally he was stepping back into their cattlemen’s world. At last she was getting her funny old brother back.
‘Copy. This is Rawhide one. Is that Cowpoke two?’
‘Yes! This is Cowpoke two. Papa Bull has given me your location and me and Curvy Cow are bringing you some sustenance.’ Before his voice was cut off on the radio Emily overheard a slapping sound and an ‘Ouch!’ from Sam.
She knew Papa Bull was Rod, but who was Curvy Cow? What was Sam on about?
Within a few minutes Emily heard Sam’s ridiculous bird call from the hillside above.
‘Ki-ki-ki-ki-kick-off-the-cows! Kick-off-the-cows! Ki! Ki! Kiiiii!’
Emily repeated the call, laughing. Up until now, she had felt tense, worried that she might be the one caught red-handed with the cattle, even though feisty Flo was there to dress down the authorities if need be. But now it was beginning to feel like fun.
Emily squealed when she saw Sam coming towards her with Bridie in tow, her face lighting up at the sight of her friend. ‘Curvy Cow! What are you doing here?’
‘We’re the inside intelligence,’ Bridie said. ‘Dargo was all but dead after you guys rode out of town. So Sam and I raided the black and brown in the make-up box and went commando, black beanies and all. We staked out VPP headquarters and found out what they were up to. We couldn’t leave you down here like sitting ducks.’
Sam and Bridie high-fived, their eyes shining.
‘But you two hate each other.’
‘Internal feuding ceases when external foe approach,’ Sam said.
‘Yeah, whatever,’ said Bridie. ‘He still annoys the crap out of me.’
‘You love me,’ Sam said, digging a finger in her ribs.
‘Piss off!’ she said. ‘Don’t touch the fat.’
‘She loves me,’ he said again to Emily just as Bridie gave him a good shove, sending him sprawling down the hill.
Sam stood up and brushed himself off.
‘The police are listening in on the radio so we’re to use it only for emergencies. They’ve taken everyone’s names and it’s yet to be seen if they’ll collectively arrest us or just fine us. The police and Parkies are now out looking for the cattle. Both went to the north and south ends of the valley, not in this direction. One of them even got bogged in a creek crossing and the Mansfield mob had to winch ’em out! It was a classic.’
‘Yeah?’ said Emily, hoping like crazy it wasn’t Luke who had bogged the vehicle but thinking he was too farm-boy for that.
As Sam talked, Bridie unpacked a thermos and some food from a backpack. Emily let out a low whistle and Flo, who had failed as a sentry, shook herself awake, clearly surprised to see Sam and Bridie. She began to make her way over.
‘Is new ranger boy there?’ Emily asked casually.
Sam shrugged. ‘Couldn’t tell you. Bridie and I kept the vehicle in the trees on the south side and walked our way up the creek. I haven’t laid eyes on them. Just seen their vehicles. Why does it matter?’
‘Oh,’ Emily said, squinting, ‘it just feels a bit rich. You know, taking the fella’s horse on trial, then using it to bring cattle through his National Park his first week on the job.’
‘He’ll get over it,’ Bridie said.
‘I s’pose he will,’ Emily said.
Once they’d eaten and tossed the scraps to Rousie and Useless, Sam stood and stretched.
‘Okay, Rawhide one, we’ll go back to base camp. Are you right here for another hour? Then we’ll send up a relief party.’
‘Can Curvy Cow stay with me?’
‘Why not? We’ll send Hilarious Heifer back to Papa Bull and she can have more of a nanna nap in her swag.’
‘Who are you calling Hilarious Heifer?’ Flo said gruffly, but with a twinkle in her blue eyes.
And with that, Flo, Useless and Sam walked away up the steep bush-covered hill. The cattle were beginning to stir, wanting to browse the bush around them.
‘We’d best mount up and keep them together,’ Emily said. She helped
Bridie onto Flo’s horse, and went to block the lead cows, which were starting to take the herd towards the long grasses of the river flats.
Bridie tilted her head. ‘Is that a vehicle I can hear?’
Emily paused, her ears straining for sound. Yes! She could hear an engine far off in the trees below. Then she caught glimpses of a ute winding its way towards them.
‘Let’s push ’em up higher.’
Emily sent Rousie scooting around the herd and began forcing the cattle directly uphill.
Ten minutes later, Emily paused for a breather, the cattle, too, stopping on a ledge on the hillside. One cow bellowed.
‘Shush!’ Emily said. She called to Bridie, ‘I think we’ve lost them.’
Then, to her horror, she looked up and saw Luke standing above her on the mountainside. He had his hands on his hips and was decked out in the khaki of his Parks uniform. He wore shorts and sturdy walking boots and Emily noted his legs were muscular and tanned. His arms were strong and delicious in his short-sleeved shirt. For days she’d wanted to see him. For days she’d longed to know if the spark she felt for him was reciprocated. But now, at this very moment, he was the last person she wanted to see. He had caught them red-handed with the cattle.
Emily urged the gelding up the steep pinch towards Luke. As she neared, she could see Luke’s chest rising and falling and the sweat on his brow from his fast walk up the hillside in their pursuit. Emily couldn’t help thinking he looked so gorgeous in his uniform.
She, too, was sheened in sweat, her checked shirt tied about her waist, the straps of her red gingham bra showing on each sun-tanned shoulder under her red Bonds singlet. As she slid from her horse to stand before him, their eyes locked together. Emily waited for his anger.
Instead, in an instant, Luke bent towards her, kissing her. She tasted the sweet salt on his lips and savoured his strong body pressed against hers. At last, she thought! She cupped his face in her hands and closed her eyes, not wanting this dream to stop. Her hands slid down his neck and broad, hot shoulders, then the curve of his long, strong back. His hands glided deliciously over her body as he kissed her again and again. She pulled back from him for a moment and they looked deep into each other’s eyes. Both laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation, and kissed again, only this time it was softer, more tender.
‘Um, excuse me,’ came a small voice. Bridie was sitting on Flo’s horse down the slope with the cattle staring up at them, ‘can you arrest me like that too?’
They laughed and then Emily and Luke were kissing again.
‘I’ll just be here,’ Bridie called. ‘Don’t mind me. I’ll keep an eye on the cattle. But I must say, that is one thorough frisk job you’re doing, Mr Ranger!’
Smiling, Luke took the reins from Emily and hitched the gelding to a fallen log. Then he took Emily’s hand and led her gently to the base of a giant granddaddy tree. Its great grey base was ringed with soft green moss sending a delicious pungent scent into the still hot air. Her back, as she leant on the solid trunk, felt cool, while Luke’s body pressed against her felt hot. She closed her eyes as they kissed and ran her hands under his ranger’s shirt and felt the smooth warm skin beneath, the trail of hair that led down his belly, the firmness of his horseman’s waist.
‘What are we doing?’ Luke breathed.
‘I don’t know,’ Emily said, stunned by the intensity of their passion.
‘They’ll be up here soon. The other rangers.’ He kissed her again. ‘I’ll find you,’ he said breathlessly. ‘Tonight. I’ll find you.’
Luke pressed his lips to hers a final time and then was gone, loping down the mountain. Leaping logs, swinging round tree trunks, looking in every way like he belonged here in the bush.
Emily stood at the top of the hill watching him go. Bridie, below, glanced up at her.
‘What was that?’ she said. ‘Tarzan?’
‘I don’t know, but I ain’t no Jane.’
‘Was it bush tucker man?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Was it the croc hunter?’
‘I don’t know! All I do know is that was out of this world and weird – and wonderful.’
Twenty-four
Still breathless from Luke’s kisses, Emily stood beside her horse as the police took their names and details. A group of cattlemen gathered. It all seemed so serious and stupid, Emily thought. She bit her lip to stop a smile.
She glanced over at the rangers. They were scribbling notes on the incident and talking with each other, all except for Luke. He was leaning on a tree, head bowed, arms and ankles crossed. He was looking down at the ground, but she could feel his presence like a burning white heat. When he glanced up and caught her eye, Emily’s heart skipped a beat. She was utterly hooked on him. For a fleeting moment his face conveyed his secret attraction to Emily. But he looked to the ground again, trying to settle his face into a mask of passivity.
Emily felt a twinge of annoyance. Had he said something about the Park, she wondered? Surely he could see with his farmboy eyes that fining the cattlemen would be a bureaucratic joke. It should be the government being fined, Emily thought.
From beneath her hat she’d looked down to the scuffed toes of her boots as if she were the criminal. Now she felt the earth pulse. The life of the soil. This was what was driving her. This land. She decided to do as Evie had suggested and hold true to her promise to protect it.
She raised her head to gaze, not defiantly, but gently at the policeman with her large dark eyes. She summoned the energy of the earth that thrummed beneath her and, just as Evie had taught her and the girls, imagined a powerful beam of light pouring into her from the heavens, streaming right to the core of her being. Suddenly she felt strong and powerful in the calmest, most gentle way. It was like those moments when she had hovered over the treetops in that strange but surprisingly normal-feeling limbo between physical life and spiritual eternity.
‘It’s simple science,’ Evie had once said. ‘We are all simply energy, and our thoughts and emotions control the vibrations of our energy. It’s just we have forgotten this fact.’
The policeman faltered as he read Emily her rights. In his job, he had developed a steely facade, but Emily, like a tiny flower pushing through concrete, had made it through his armour. He stopped speaking, shut his clipboard, and steered her away from the group.
‘Look,’ he whispered, leaning in close, ‘we’re just doing our jobs. And they’re just doing their jobs.’ He indicated the Parks rangers with a flick of his head. ‘There’s no way known the government would be stupid enough to proceed with charges against you. It would be a media circus and politically disastrous. So don’t worry, okay? This is just for show. Just procedure. You’ll be fine.’
Emily nodded. ‘Thank you.’
The policeman shrugged. ‘I know you’re good people.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I know you’re doing this for love, not trouble. I just have to do my job, that’s all.’
Emily watched as the men climbed into their vehicles. Luke glanced up briefly and gave her an uncertain smile. From beneath the brim of her hat she had half smiled back, hoping no one else had seen. For a moment she felt as if she was Juliet, and Luke her Romeo. Then she told herself to get a grip. Starting something with that man was like playing with fire.
As the sun sank beneath the giant mountain and illuminated the hills, the cattlemen’s campfire was cranked up so that flames danced wildly and sparks flew. Beers were cracked and platters of biscuits and cheese passed about. On another more sedate fire, bush stew was cooking in a giant black pot, and there was damper wrapped in shiny foil in the ashes.
Emily swigged on a stubby, laughing at the cattlemen’s tall tales. There was an element of bravado about the people around the fire, but Emily felt sadness in each of them that they had been driven to such measures. None of them was a law breaker by nature.
The sound of laughter and squealing came from the nearby riverbank, and from a small track in the trees Bridie a
nd Sam emerged in the half-dark. They were dripping wet and chasing each other. They made their way to the campfire and Bridie crouched down beside Emily, breathless. Her eyes were shining and her hair, normally styled and straightened to within an inch of its life, tumbled down in long blonde ringlets. She wore wet boardshorts and a bright-pink singlet, with an aqua bikini top underneath, curvaceous and gorgeous in the heat of the evening. She leaned closer and whispered to Emily, ‘Sam just tried to kiss me! Down at the river.’
‘And?’
‘I told him he couldn’t.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I’d just eaten tuna and spring onions.’
Emily laughed. ‘Why would you go and do a thing like that?’
‘Because I’m trying to lose weight and the chops have been really fatty.’
‘No,’ Emily whispered back. ‘I mean, why didn’t you let him kiss you?’
Bridie looked down at her body. ‘Because, look at me. He’s come from that rock-star world of glamour girls who are stick thin and gorgeous.’ She grabbed a handful of flesh on her hip. ‘As if he’d really be serious about a fatty-boombah like me.’
Emily reached for her hand. ‘Oh, Bridie. You’re gorgeous. Men love curves. You’ve been reading too many magazines. There’s no way those skinny girls can come near you once you unleash that wit of yours – not to mention those boobs. Any man would be hooked. Even country music stars.’
‘Yeah? You think so? You think I should kiss him?’
Emily grinned. ‘Well, maybe after you’ve cleaned your teeth.’
In that moment, Sam ambled into the firelight holding his guitar.
‘Who wants to hear a tune?’
The campers cheered, Emily the loudest. It had been years since the cattlemen had been treated to Sam’s singing in this informal way. He’d been too busy with the bigtime. But now here he was, Rod Flanaghan’s son, home from Nashville with a dinner-plate belt buckle and fancy guitar, ready to play again. Her brother was back.
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