Page 49 of Stockman's Stowaway

‘Pop, you don’t need to tell all our secrets.’

‘It’s true. Bree refused to let that big boofhead get taken by the contracting mob that was stripping the place bare. It’s what gave me the idea of selecting this mob and taking them out to Wombat Flats. We could only do a few at a time so they didn’t notice.’ Charlie sheepishly shrugged from the high boards, to adjust Mason on his chest.

‘Bull,’ said the boy.

‘That’s right, mate,’ said Charlie. ‘An old bull.’

‘No, he’s not.’ Bree tickled the bull’s chin while she looked over his stance; he arched his neck and groaned as if she’d hit some secret spot. ‘He’s got a few more seasons yet before he retires. Sorry boys, I’m making an executive decision on this one… Straight back to the bush paddock you go, Freckles.’ Breeswung open the wide gate and patted the beast’s massive rump. ‘You go play nice with the ladies, ya hear.’

The bull snorted, and with his wide horns he casually ambled through the open gates to head for the large bale of hay waiting on the other side. And the drafting process began again.

‘Bush. Bush. Heifer. Pit. Fat cow…’

‘We’ll pick that one. It’s had long enough to polish the rails.’ Cap pointed to the massive beast. ‘But it’s your turn to start telling Willow what to do.’ Cap gave her an encouraging nod. ‘Rest up, dogs. Willow, stay.’He handed Mia the long and light poles to help her guide the dog and beasts. ‘I don’t think you’ll need these poles for long.’

The confidence he showed in not only Willow, but Mia, made her heart bloom for the man. It was an intoxicating emotion she could easily get addicted to.

But she needed to focus. Mia gripped the thin rods, not expecting any miracles, not when she feared for the dog’s safety.

Yet Willow was eagerly looking up at her, then at the cattle, then up at her, obediently waiting for the command as her sweeping tail created a small dust cloud.

‘Away,’ Mia said to Willow.

The dog bolted, lightning fast.

‘Take time…’

And she lowered her lithe body as if stalking the beast.

The other cattle shifted aside, and it wasn’t long before Willow had the beast singled out.

Mia hesitated. ‘What now?’

‘Point to where you want the dog to push the beast.’ Cap’s breath was so warm in her ear, his hand ever so lightly rested on her waist, that even though he wasn’t touching skin, it felt like it.

‘In the beginning, muster dogs will follow seventy per cent of your hand signals and the rest by voice. Just use the simple commands I taught you. It’d be good if you can whistle.’

‘Nope. Never could.’ Not like Cap, who could control a dozen cattle dogs at once like magic.

‘All yours.’ He stepped back, giving her room.

She swallowed hard, as a nervous bead of sweat trickled from her forehead, and her stomach swirled with the fear of doing something new. What if she stuffed up? What if Willow got hurt? What if—

‘You’ve got this, Mia.’ The simple pat on her shoulder gave her the courage to try.

‘Come round.’ She pointed towards the open chute where the beast hesitated to go through.

Earlier, when the holding pen had been full, the beasts pushed through so willingly. But now the herd was thinning, the ones left were more cunning, they were what Cap calledthe ferals, the cattle who hadn’t seen a human before.

Mia was learning quickly about the process and knew to react fast whenever Cap would shoutRun!And she’d run for the nearest fence to climb. The first few times, Cap gripped her rump to hoist her fast over the rails, where they’d land in the dirt with a thud, laughing at each other, while the beast stood on the other side of the fence, snorting at them.

‘Come on, my little dirt bunny,’ he’d say to her, holding his hand out to help her to her feet, where they’d dust themselves off, adjust their hats and climb back inside to do it all over again.

The adrenaline rush was intoxicating, and through Cap, she’d learned to love the game. He’d given her the confidence, yet treated her like an equal, even though he was teaching her the process of using the muster dogs.

Willow ran in semicircles back and forth, yapping and nipping at the beast’s heels, then it dropped its head and huge horns at the edge of the open chute, dragging its front hoof as if to charge.

‘Oh, no.’ She wanted to scream at Willow to run.

---