Page 102 of Stockman's Stowaway

Didn’t that make her stomach swirl. Did this mean they’d officially made her a part of the team?

‘As the last contestant for the obstacle course, you’re to stay out in the arena for the next event.’

‘Back-to-back events?’

‘It’s how we got the extra time to allow you to get ready. You’ll start there at the jumps. It’s set out the same as Cap’s obstacle course back home.’ He pointed at the small jumps.

‘We only did that for fun. Not for show. Cap’s dogs did this.’

‘Mia, we don’t care if you win. We’re just proud of you for stepping up in Cap’s place. And if Cap were here, I’m sure he’d tell you that you look nice. Good luck.’

Wow! Ryder Riggs said all that. Her jaw fell open watching the big man walk away.

That’s when she noticed the crowd of assorted hats spread around the arena. At one end sat a group of stern-looking cattlemen seated at a long table holding pens and clipboards. Another held a microphone. Above them stood a huge board lit up with red numbers.

‘Ready, Miss?’

No way was she ready to stand in front of E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E.

Willow brushed her moist nose against Mia’s hand. It was her dog. Who was a part of her team.

She crouched down to the dog. ‘Think we can do this, Willow?’

Willow’s tail wagged, her eyes on the obstacle course. Willow loved the course. And this was for Cap, for his family and friends who’d helped her. For a month she’d been searching for a way to thank them all, so this was it.

She unclipped the dog’s stylish new lead. ‘Steady, Willow…’

The dog crouched down, tail wagging, her eyes on Mia.

She nodded to the adjudicator, who held up his hand.

A buzzer went off. The large clock started.

‘Go, Willow, over to the end.’ The dog ran her heart out, making quick work of the small jumps which represented the differing heights of the cattle rails. She then ran around the top end, through the mesh tunnel to leap effortlessly over another set of jumps, and up to the tall bridge to represent cattle ramps.Then, back through the jumps again and over to the paddle swing.

‘Hold…’ There was a pause as the dog used her weight to lower the board like a seesaw, then through a series of tyre jumps, then the sprint towards Willow’s favourite section of the twenty-part obstacle course, the weave poles.

Twelve plastic poles stood over six feet high where the dog had to swing past them going from the left, to right, left, right, left, right, past each pole evenly spaced at sixty centimetres apart.

With her dainty paws doing a swimming step as if dancing on the dust that made up the outback arena, Willow raced through it as if it was a straight line, then over the last hurdles to race back to Mia.

‘I’ve got you, girl.’ Mia crouched down with her arms out, and Willow jumped into them for a hug. It was then Mia heard the crowd’s applause.

The numbers on the clock showed sixty-nine seconds.

Was that a good time?

Then the ground crew made quick work of putting the obstacles onto a truck, leaving Mia and Willow all alone in the arena. She’d barely had enough time to test out the new water bowl for Willow, when the truck left the arena and a gate opened at the far end allowing three steers to enter the holding pen.

Willow barked, her tail thumping in the dirt, her eager eyes on the cattle.

It was time for the next event.

‘Welcome to the muster dog trials,’said a male voice over the loudspeakers and the crowd’s voices hushed to listen. ‘For those new to the muster dog trials, all dogs start with a hundred points. Points will be deducted for errors such as excessive barking, nipping, excessive force, and disobeying commands. The aim is to walk three cattle calmly around the fences thenthrough the gates to represent drafting gates. It’s a test to show the skills of the dogs helping the stockman move the cattle where they want them. And competitors have six minutes to complete this trial.’

A sweat bead trickled down the side of her face, Mia swallowed hard wishing they’d just get on with it.

The MC continued, ‘First off will be the kelpie, Willow, and her handler, Mia Dixon, from Elsie Creek Station, who recorded an impressive time in the obstacle course. I’ve been told that Mia and Willow have only been working together for three weeks. They’ve been trained by Caleb Riggs, co-owner of Elsie Creek Station, who trains handlers and problem dogs in the art of mustering partnerships. Let’s begin…’

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