Page 34 of Stockman's Sandstorm

‘It’s Jonathan.’ Ash pointed at their baby brother climbing out of the passenger side of the ute, hoisting a beer carton over his shoulder before leading the big man in the bigger hat to the verandah, where Ryder was there to greet them.

‘Everyone, this here is the Station Hand.’ Jonathan pointed at the man with grey flecks in his hair, and suntanned skin like leather, dressed in dusty jeans, and a pair of crocodile-leather boots. It was the Station Hand.

Everyone knew about the Station Hand. He was a legendary stockman, one of the best mustering contractors in the country, who’d taught thousands the trade of running cattle.

‘Ron’s the name.’ Ron’s hands were huge, full of calluses, giving them a firm shake. He was as big as Ryder, with an air of authority around him, as he cracked open a beer. ‘I hear there’s some new mine after your water?’

‘I told him.’ Jonathan handed out a round of beers. ‘They haven’t hit us over our water yet. Our cousin, Monet, is going to do a flyover to suss out the mine to see who it’ll affect.’

‘Your station won’t be affected.’ Ryder shifted the many maps that covered the table. ‘Sandlot Station gets the river run-off from Elsie Creek herself. So do all these stations, here. We don’t. Our land has the headwater that runs into Elsie Creek with another river that runs all the way to the sea.’

‘Which is why you lot got the name,’ said Ron. ‘You’ve also got the river from the run-off, courtesy of the escarpment and Cattleman’s Keep. Pretty spot that peak is.’

‘The reason I’ve asked Ron to visit is because he was my consultant when Mandy and I invested in Sandlot. Ron knows Elsie Creek Station.’

‘You’ve mustered here?’ Ryder asked the Station Hand.

‘I did. With Darcie, the old owner, and ol’ Splinter. Where is Charlie Splint?’

‘Gone into town with Bree,’ said Ash.

‘Pity it’s not Saturday, Charlie would have his pizza oven happening. Have you been to one of his pizza nights at the caretaker’s cottage?’

‘No. We’ve been busy trying to get the place sorted out.’ Ryder’s frown was filthy as he sat at the head of the table. ‘Do you know anything about this mine?’

‘No one does, it’s that new. But when Jonathan told us what was happening, it got a lot of other local cattlemen worried that their water may also be under threat, too. We don’t want to be like them southern farmers who pay for water from a river that runs right past them.’

‘But we have a river that starts here. At this station,’ said Dex. ‘What I don’t get is how they can claim we’re infringing on their water rights.’

Ron shrugged his beefy shoulders. ‘What did you boys do differently?’

‘We fixed the dam they broke.’ Dex scowled, crossing arms over his toned chest.

Ron narrowed his eyes at Dex. ‘Can you prove it?’

‘I wish. What’s stopping them from wrecking it again? Think about it, we’ve just fixed the dam, which Charlie said hasn’t been working for six months. We’ve reduced the water flow.’

‘When did the mining lease start?’ Jonathan asked.

Ryder shuffled through the paperwork. ‘Nine months ago.’

‘How long was Elsie Creek Station up for sale?’

‘A year,’ replied Ron. ‘Not long after Darcie passed. Elsie Creek Station might be on the smaller scale where land mass is concerned, but she’s pristine cattle country with plenty of good Mitchell grass plains.’

‘Not without water.’ Jonathan sighed, dropping his elbows onto his thighs. ‘I know the issues we had about water at Sandlot Station. Hey, I should bring Flo out here to do some water divining for you guys.’

‘Elsie Creek Station has plenty of water. Always has,’ said Ron. ‘But if you’ve got a mine nearby, they could tap into the underground artesian water basins, which is what runs everyone’s bores.’

‘Oh, no.’ Cap moaned, dragging his palms down his face as if living some horror story. ‘Mines drain water basins, or contaminate them, rendering them useless. I can give you the data to prove this. It’s a well-known fact.’

That quietened them down.

‘Do you have any cattle?’ Ron asked. ‘I know Darcie’s son stripped the place bare.’

‘Were you in on that?’ Dex asked bluntly.

‘Absolutely not.’ Ron crossed his arms over his beefy chest. ‘We all knew what Darcie wanted for this station’s future and have a lot of respect for Charlie sticking to Darcie’s wishes. None of us locals took part in Darcie’s son stripping the place like that.’

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