Page 38 of Stockman's Stormcloud

‘Hell, yeah.’ Besides protecting human life, they had another herd, that Bree and her grandfather were protecting. ‘So how do we do this?’

‘You do nothing, bubble boy.’ Bree picked up his oxygen tank and its stupid trolley, pushing down the grass to widen the path, making it easier for him to follow her to the shade of a nearby gum tree. ‘You can supervise, not that we’d listen.’

‘Youcan’t lift that cage on your own.’

‘That’s why I added these nifty little wheels, to wheel it around like a trolley. It’s not our first crocodile hunt.’

It was his, as a station owner, yet he couldn’t do a damned thing to help.

‘Lad, you’ve gotta remember, Bree and I have been out here on our own for a while now, doing our best to keep this place goin’. And, as much as we appreciate you wanting to help, you need to look after your health. I should know, what with my tricky ticker.’ Charlie patted his shoulder and helped carry the oxygen tanks closer to the tree. ‘So, could you kindly play overseer by sticking here in the shade?’

Dex hated this. He was a hands-on guy who didn’t mind getting dirty. But as he laboured for air with his lungs squeezing like broken glass, he was stuck leaning against the trunk of a tree, forced to play the unhappy spectator.

With Charlie guiding Bree, she backed the trailer down to the edge of the waterhole. Bree climbed onto the cage and used some chain to attach the large pig leg inside the cage. She raised the door, and then with Charlie’s help they pushed it into the large watering hole and watched it settle until the ripples disappeared, leaving the top of the cage door open, while Bree dragged the length of chain to wrap around a cluster of saplings.

‘I’m guessing you’re treating that croc cage like a boat. Anchoring it to those trees.’

‘Unless you want to take a swim and check on the bait.’ Bree grinned as she tucked the ratchet straps under the back bench seats of the Razorback. ‘I’ll come back in the morning and check it. Not that I expect much for a while, especially since Carked-it has that carcass to keep him entertained, and he’s cunning with traps. But later today, I’ll cut off his food supply and muster the mob closer to Koala Creek for water. What do you think, Pop?’

‘Good call. Our stockhorses could do with a workout. If that’s all right with you, lad? You bein’ station owner and all.’

‘If I didn’t have this issue,’ Dex said, kicking the side of anoxygen tank, ‘I’d be helping.’

‘We can handle it. Don’t you worry yourself, lad, your herd is in good hands. I reckon we take the horse truck, kid?’

Bree nodded, still dressed in her mustering clothes. ‘But first we should take Dex back, before the hospital sends out their medico to torture him.’

‘Ugh.’ Dex didn’t want to go back to that couch. He preferred being outdoors, watching the sun spread its rays over the valley where a herd of cattle shone in the field, just like dusty diamonds, as Charlie called them.

This is why he was a stockman. It’s why he entered those bare-knuckle street fights to pay for this small pocket of paradise. ‘Can’t we just sit here for a bit?’

In a rare moment of empathy, Bree nodded, with her green eyes softening as she faced the horizon that went further than the eye could see. All of it was Elsie Creek Station. It was his home.

But then Bree surprised him when she leaned over and turned off his oxygen tank with a wink. ‘You’ll be wearing that mask for the drive back.’

Ripping of his mask, he wanted to hug her. But Dex didn’t hug anyone. He hadn’t been a hugger for a long time. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d hugged anyone.

Oh, yes, he did.

But he didn’t want to. Clenching his jaw, he pressed his hand against his rib cage to purposely unleash the pain of the present to forget the pain of his past.

‘Hey, Pop? Do you reckon you could make us one of your billy teas? A proper one? I’ve got the billy can and some tea leaves with me.’ Bree rummaged under the driver’s seat of the Razorback to drag out the well-used billy tin and three tin mugs. ‘It won’t take much to scrounge around for some kindling to start the fire for coals. Just be sure to stay clear of the smoke, Stormcloud.’

‘Aw, you’re a gem, you are, kid. Makin’ my day into one like diamonds, for sure.’ Charlie gleefully rubbed his palmstogether. ‘We’ll have ourselves a proper bushman’s billy tea, we will. Dex, I might even show you the knack to swinging the billy the way my old man taught me. It’s an art, you know.’

‘I’d like that, Charlie.’ Free from his oxygen mask, Dex adjusted his hat, and with his thumbs hooking through the belt loops of his jeans, he admired the land, where the water sparkled under the rising sun.

It was then, as if time paused, he pushed through the pain to take in a deep breath of fresh, outback air. It was his first full lungful of air.

Charlie was right, days like these were like diamonds.

Thirteen

Daythree of home detention and Dex wanted to throw the pesky alarm clock out the window, slamming it silent once again. He’d been napping and sat up and did his breathing exercises like he was doing some dumb meditation.

‘You’re getting better at that, lad.’ Charlie leaned back against the kitchen counter. ‘You’re sitting up quicker than you did yesterday.’

‘I’m feeling better.’ Yet getting off the super comfy couch was still a challenge. ‘Where’s Bree?’ His evil taskmaster.

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