Rosalee Station

by Magro, Mandy

  Patrick leant back in his chair and smiled like a bear who’d found the honey pot. ‘Can I put my order in for the same again tomorrow, or is that too cheeky?’

  ‘Thanks, guys. I hope you like your lunches. I’ve packed you some homemade blueberry muffins and a chocolate cake, along with my famous egg, zucchini and bacon pie. Have yet to meet somebody who doesn’t like it.’

  Slim was rubbing his belly with satisfaction written across his large round face. ‘I’m as full as a bull’s arse in the middle of spring but I’m looking forward to lunch already, mate. You’re a great cook. I’ll have to be careful or I’ll lose this fine figure of mine!’

  ‘Yeah, you look like you need a good feed, Slim!’ Liam laughed.

  Chris drained the last of the coffee from his cup and rubbed his red eyes. Sarah had noticed how quiet he’d had been all morning.

  ‘Looks like you had a late one, Chris. What were you doing til all hours of the morning? I heard you come in after we’d all hit the sack. Bit of a night owl, hey?’

  Chris shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘Just taking in the night sky, and before I knew it I’d fallen asleep. I woke up at two a.m. with bloody meat ants crawling all over me!’

  The men laughed, but Sarah noticed an inexplicable look of relief cross Chris’s face.

  She made sure everything was packed in the esky for smokos and lunch, along with plenty of water to wet the men’s chops. Stumpy gave her a hand.

  ‘Matt’s been doing a brilliant job of flying the chopper, guys, don’t ya reckon?’ he said. Matt had taken over chopper duties since the accident until a replacement could be found. Luckily the Walshes had been able to hire a chopper from the neighbouring station, as the owners had already mustered their cattle.

  Sarah felt a surge of emotion at the mention of the chopper. Stumpy put his arm over Sarah’s shoulder.

  ‘Sorry, mate. I didn’t think before I mentioned the chopper.’

  ‘No worries, Stumpy. I’ll be fine.’ Sarah had to bite her lip to stop it from quivering. Thinking of Brad and the chopper accident still gave her nightmares, and she doubted she would ever be able to step foot in a chopper again.

  Sarah watched out the kitchen window as the men rode away on their horses. The sun was rising on the horizon, making the whole sky glow like it was made from liquid gold, the men’s Akubras casting shadows across their faces as the dust stirred lazily around them.

  It was a beautiful morning to get out and about with Duke. Sarah hadn’t had a lot of time for him lately, and felt bad for the poor bugger. Last week Matt had mentioned that there was some good-sized red claw in one of the dams, along with barramundi. A fishing excursion was just what she and Duke needed. She’d drop by the homestead and get directions.

  Sarah walked out to the Land Cruiser and whistled for Duke to join her in the front. He jumped in with such eagerness that he slid across the seat and slammed into Sarah.

  ‘Keen to go then, boy!’ Sarah said, laughing as she revved the truck to life, a puff of black diesel fumes flying out the exhaust. As she drove past Matt’s rodeo ground, she pulled over for a moment. Leaving the Cruiser idling away, she nosed around, admiring the set-up that Matt had built himself. She was impressed by his obvious passion for rodeo. Over the past few weeks she’d seen a bit more of Matt around the cottage – he often popped in after work to share a beer with the men. She’d sat down with them once or twice, but had been keeping out of Matt’s way. Was she afraid she might feel something she wasn’t ready for? Meanwhile Sarah hadn’t seen much of Brooke at all, considering they lived on the same station. She didn’t seem to be out and about much, and Sarah wondered what she did all day. She found it odd that Brooke didn’t help him out. Gently shutting the gate to the chute she’d been inspecting, Sarah headed back to the car before Duke chewed his way through her Tupperware container and ate the delectable goodie inside.

  Judy was pleased to see Sarah when she opened the front door of the homestead, giving her a warm kiss on the cheek. Sarah produced the container from behind her back and proudly presented an orange cake to Judy. ‘From one cook to another. I made it with your oranges so I thought you might like some with a cuppa. I could use some girly conversation after being surrounded by blokes these past few weeks.’

  ‘Thanks, love! I bet the cake’s divine. Come in and bring Duke with you. He can sit out on the back porch with us. Make yourself at home while I fetch us a pot of tea.’

  ‘Did you hear that, mate? You’ve been invited to join the ladies for some cake and tea,’ Sarah told Duke in a posh voice.

  Judy fussed about in the kitchen, talking to Sarah through the window that looked onto the back verandah. ‘Have you heard any more updates on Brad, love?’

  ‘Yeah, I spoke to his sister a couple of days ago. He’s back in Mareeba with his parents now, which is a lot better than being stuck in hospital. The burns still have a way to go, but his legs are on the mend.’

  ‘That’s wonderful news! And how are you doing?’ Sarah could hear the compassion in Judy’s voice and she was reminded of her mum. She felt a sudden pang of homesickness.

  ‘I’m floating along quite well, I guess. I think, deep down, I always knew Brad and I weren’t meant to be, but I just didn’t want to admit it. The move out here made me realise that. I just feel like I’m right where I’m meant to be for now.’

  Judy joined Sarah out the back, placing a bowl of mince down for Duke. ‘There you go, boy, plenty to go around. Dig in.’ Duke wolfed it down in two seconds flat and Judy laughed.

  ‘You’d think I never fed him,’ Sarah said, rolling her eyes and smirking at her best mate as he licked the last of the mince off his chops.

  Judy pulled a chair out and sat down facing Sarah, reaching across the table to grab her hand. ‘Oh, I’m so happy you’re enjoying it out here. You’re a tough woman, hanging round after all that you’ve been through. Cut out for this dusty old country, I reckon, without a doubt!’

  For the next hour the two women sat and talked about station life. Sarah realised how much she’d been missing female company. Just as she was about to leave, Matt came strolling out to the porch.

  ‘G’day, you two gasbaggers! Have you saved some cake for me? It looks bloody good.’

  ‘Sarah made that from our very own orange tree. It’s lovely. I’m hoping to steal the recipe off her,’ Judy said with a wink in Sarah’s direction.

  Sarah couldn’t help but gaze just that little bit too long at Matt as he smiled and gave her a wink, the tattoo on his forearm clearly visible. She had butterflies in her belly. What was wrong with her? Until this moment she hadn’t allowed herself to register how much she was attracted to Matt. As he turned to grab a piece of cake from Judy, she noticed another tattoo snaking out of his collar and up the back of his neck, and for a dangerous second she visualised herself running her fingers down it and below his shirt. When he turned to brush his hands off the railing of the verandah, she took in his arse. Stop! He’s in a relationship! she told herself. But it wasn’t breaking the law to admire a handsome man, was it?

  ‘Hey, Matt, I was wondering if you could tell me the best place to drop my line in. I was thinking of going fishing this arvo but I don’t know where to go, and I’m afraid I might get a bit lost.’

  Matt wiped the crumbs off his lips. ‘Tell you what – I’ll give you a shout when I’m free, and I’ll show you the best places to fish. It’s not very often I get a few hours spare but for fishing, I’ll make the time. I’ll challenge you to see who can catch the biggest barra!’

  ‘I’d love that!’ Sarah said, trying to quell her excitement. ‘Bring Brooke along too so I can get to know her a little better.’

  ‘Nah, Brooke hates fishing. She doesn’t like to get the smell of the bait on her fingers. She reckons it doesn’t wash off for days.’ Matt’s brow furrowed slightly. ‘Anyway, I better chuff off. I’ve gotta go muster in the chopper this afternoon. Oh, by the way, Sarah, I’ve been meaning to ask, do you know any
one who can fly a chopper? I’m up to my armpits with work and it’d be a godsend if there was someone who could fly for me.’

  A broad grin spread across Sarah’s face as an idea suddenly came to mind. ‘Yeah, I reckon I do, Matt.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  TINY flecks of blue paint all over her face, Sarah sat down on the upturned bucket in the middle of the lounge room. The furniture was draped in plastic sheeting and there was a lot to clean up, but Sarah was pleased with herself. She’d managed to paint the whole cottage in just over a week. It was satisfying to sit back and see how good the place looked. Last week she’d replaced the brown 1970s curtains with brightly patterned handmade ones, and she’d made new cushion covers for the couch to match the curtains, courtesy of Judy’s sewing machine. Yesterday morning she’d spent hours going through all the bits and bobs in the storage shed, finding old saddles, whips, spurs and saddlebags, which she had polished up and parked in designated spots around the cottage, giving it a real country feel. She’d even found an old brass lamp, which now sat in pride of place beside the telly. The place had a country charm now, like the land it rested upon; the changes had brought out the substance and character it had all along. It just needed a little primping to uncover it.

  Sarah glanced at Duke, sitting beside her; he had blobs of paint in amongst his normally black and white coat. She had a giggle at the state of him – it looked like he’d been to the hairdresser’s for a botched blue rinse. Better clean up, she thought, absently rubbing the blisters on her fingers and glancing at her watch. The mail plane was due any minute.

  The whirr of the Cessna filled the skies just as Sarah finished getting the paint off her face. She ran out the front door and jumped on the quad Stumpy had parked under the paperbark tree and took off towards the landing strip with Duke in tow.

  Sarah waved as she saw a familiar face through the plane’s windscreen. Jimmy grinned back widely at her as the plane finally came to a halt.

  ‘Jimmy!’ Sarah shouted. Her bull-riding mate from Mareeba had arrived, ready to take up the post as chopper pilot.

  He almost fell out of the plane, his lanky legs taking three steps at a time as he bounded down the stairs to greet her. He hit the dirt with a thud and coughed comically as red dust rose and filled his nostrils, swiping at the air to add to his show.

  ‘Sarah, great to see you!’ Jimmy gave her a huge hug.

  ‘You too, Jimmy! So glad you could take the job. Matt, the owner’s son, has been flat out. It’s gonna be great having you out here for the rest of the season.’

  ‘Happy to help out. I love a bit of mustering.’

  The mailman Stan emerged from the Cessna with a sack of mail thrown over his shoulder. ‘How goes it, Sarah?’

  Sarah clobbered a fly that had landed on her arm. ‘Yeah, great, Stan. Thanks for bringing Jimmy out for us, hey – we appreciate it.’

  ‘Made the trip a lot more enjoyable with this bloke sitting beside me. I haven’t laughed so much in years!’ Stan threw his thumb in Jimmy’s direction. ‘Do you mind taking this to the homestead for me? I have to get a shift on. I’ve got loads to deliver today. Anyone would think it was Christmas!’

  ‘No worries, Stan. Catch you next week.’ Sarah took the bag from him.

  Sarah and Jimmy watched as Stan got back in and revved the Cessna to life, waving as he flew off into the yonder.

  Back at the cottage, Jimmy dropped his bag on the comfy-looking bed in his new room and looked around the bright airy space. ‘This place is tops, Sarah!’

  ‘I’ve been working hard to get it looking good for you. Take your time and settle in – I’ll be out in the kitchen. We’re having a big barbie for you tonight and I’ve got to prepare the feast.’

  Sarah popped Johnny Cash on the kitchen CD player and sang along with his husky country voice as she chopped up the cabbage for the coleslaw, Duke howling beside her. She was so engrossed in the task at hand that she nearly hit the ceiling when Jimmy tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Oh shit, Jimmy. You scared the bejesus outta me!’ she said, clutching her chest.

  ‘Sorry, mate. Didn’t mean to surprise you. No wonder you didn’t hear me come in. Are you practising for Australian Idol or something?’

  ‘I warn you now that I tend to sing when I’m cooking. It makes it all the more fun!’ Sarah giggled.

  ‘Well that’s the main thing – you’re enjoying yourself. Now, do you want me to give you a hand? I don’t mind.’

  ‘I wouldn’t say no, mate. Thanks. You can start by peeling all the leader prawns I have in the sink. I’m gonna pop them on skewers and marinate them for the barbecue later. Slim tends to think he’s the king of the barbie. You gotta watch him, though, as he tends to yak too much and forget about it. You end up with twice-killed steaks.’

  Jimmy grinned. ‘Sounds like a right laugh. Rightio, chef. I’m your humble kitchen hand.’ He started peeling the massive sea creatures.

  ‘So what have I missed out on back home, Jimmy?’

  ‘You know Mareeba. Not much happens in a year, let alone a month. Apart from Brad coming back and recovering well, there’s nothing to tell. By the sounds of things your life has been more exciting out here.’

  Sarah nodded. ‘You got that right, mate. So much happened in that first week here, it was pretty full on. Since then things have quietened down. It’s getting better every day. I love the work, and the men are great – you’ll love them.’

  Sarah couldn’t help but smile as she gave Jimmy a description of each of the workers. She had grown close to all of them – other than Chris, who kept to himself, making it quite obvious that he preferred it that way.

  The sun was setting when Sarah carried the last of the salads out to the patio table. Jimmy was now chatting away to the men, who were standing around with beers in hand as Slim guarded his station at the billowing barbecue. Sarah heard Matt’s voice behind her, saying a quick g’day to everyone, and felt her cheeks flush and her belly fill with butterflies. Telling herself to calm down, she took a deep breath and turned around.

  ‘Hi, Matt. Just in time for dinner. Where’s Brooke?’

  ‘Hey, Sarah. Brooke’s not coming tonight. She reckons she’s crook. She looked all right to me, though. I reckon there’s something on the telly she wants to watch and she’s spinning me yarns.’ Matt’s face showed a flash of annoyance. ‘By the way, we’re motorbike mustering tomorrow. I’m gonna be taking the quad if you wanna hop on the back and come along.’

  Sarah felt like doing a tap dance on the spot but she controlled the urge. ‘I’d love to come if you don’t mind me tagging along. That’d be brilliant!’

  ‘I thought you’d jump at the chance.’ Matt smiled, the dimple in his chin visible.

  Matt wished Brooke showed as much interest in station work as Sarah. The only thing she seemed to be interested in these days was herself. Come to think of it, maybe she’d always been a bit like that. He pushed the thought out of his mind. He didn’t want to think about Brooke now, not while he was enjoying Sarah’s company. There was something about her that made him smile. He found himself keeping an eye out for her when he came to the cottage, listening for her laugh and hoping to catch a glimpse of her curly blonde hair. He snapped out of his thoughts as Sarah dragged Jimmy towards him. ‘This is our new chopper pilot, Jimmy Turner!’

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ said Jimmy, stretching out his hand. ‘I’ve heard about you from the blokes I ride rodeo with. They say you’re a top bull rider.’

  Matt blushed slightly, returning the handshake. ‘Nice to meet you, mate. Thanks for coming out here to help us out.’

  ‘I’d love to get some bull-riding lessons from you if you have any time one day. The buggers keep tossing me off before the eight seconds!’

  ‘Of course I’ll give you some lessons. Towards the end of the mustering season, when things slow down a bit.’

  Jimmy was visibly chuffed. ‘Fan-bloody-tastic!’

  ‘Dinner’s served!’ Slim bellowed out
from behind the smoke-screen at the barbecue.

  ‘Sounds like our cue to dig in!’ Sarah rubbed her stomach with glee.

  Chapter Fifteen

  SARAH had breakfast well under way before her alarm sang out at four-thirty a.m. The smell of bacon and eggs wafted through the cottage as she hummed to herself in the kitchen. She’d barely been able to sleep she was so keyed up at the thought of motorbike mustering. What more could a girl ask for? Adventures in the outback and being chaperoned by a hunky man in jeans and a cowboy hat.

  The stars still shone in the sky above her as she and the men ate their breakfast on the patio. The sun was still busy warming the masses on the other side of the planet.

  ‘You can’t sit still, girl,’ Stumpy observed, smirking. ‘It’s like you’ve got bloody ants in your pants!’

  Sarah grinned as she finished the last of her bacon. ‘I’ve never been mustering in the saddle, let alone on a bike, so it’s gonna be a day full of new experiences. I can’t wait.’

  Slim chuckled. ‘It’ll be interesting to see if you still feel the same tonight, mate – when your bum is sore and you’ve got dust in places you never dreamt possible!’

  The motorbikes roared to life, echoing in the silence of the clear, cool morning. The sun was just beginning to rise, sending golden light bouncing off the red dust. Matt sat on his quad and leant forward so Sarah could slide in behind him, and Sarah felt the electricity between them as soon as their bodies touched. Matt smelled of leather, soap and deodorant, with an underlying scent that was all his own. He smelt good enough to eat. She didn’t want to crowd him too much, so held herself a little away from his body. Being this close to him had already made her tense with excitement.

  ‘Slide in a bit closer, Sarah. It’ll be safer if you hang onto me. I promise I won’t bite!’ Matt grinned as he looked back at her, squinting in the rising sun, pulling his Akubra down a little more.