Page 36 of Stockman's Showdown

‘The only reason we found out that Jack was Jake was because Penelope and I found this huge stash of cash, inside these old army ammo tins, that were hidden in the floor of the caretaker’s cottage. Her husband had been hoarding it from selling those stolen shotguns in the pub.

But now someone is after him.

There are some bad people looking for Jack, and it’s got him worried. He’s been drinking heavily, pacing the front of the caretaker’s cottage with the shotgun at night like an armed guard, waiting for someone or something. And that mongrel has been taking it out on his wife.

Poor Penelope, the bruises he’d leave on her skin, no woman deserves that. So of course, I agreed to help her.

You see, when Penelope found that money, she searched the house for more clues and found Jack’s passport. His real one, showing his true name as Jake Blackwell. She showed it to me on her birthday when I got her a special handbag for a present.’

‘I bet he’s talking about the handbag we found, when we relocated Carked-it,’ said Bree, pausing to take a sip of water.

‘I was thinking the same thing,’ mumbled Ryder.

‘I reckon you’re both right,’ said Charlie. ‘Anyhoodle, keep going.’ He waved his hand in circles at Bree as if to hurry her up with her reading.

Again, Bree flicked the pages of the letter and read aloud:

That’s when we both realised, Penelope had not only married a liar, but if Jack Price didn’t exist, then her marriage wasn’t legitimate.

But finding that marriage certificate is taking a lot longer than we expected, and it’s vital that we find it before we leave.

You see, Penelope believes Jack tricked her into marrying him so he could get a marriage certificate, that he then used to get a driver’s licence under his new name. They were married at the courthouse where Penelope worked as a clerk, believing she was in love, looking forward to the adventure of moving north.

It was only later that Penelope realised that when Jack took her to the local police station, soon after they’d arrived in Elsie Creek, he’d used Penelope, unknowingly, as an accessory to help create his false identity, in a new state, before starting his new job at Elsie Creek Station.

So really, Penelope Price isn’t a married woman.

But the thing is, if she isn’t married to Jack, she’d have no right to any of his property, especially the money she’d found. Whereas I believe Pen bloody well deserves all the cash, just for what the mug put her through over the years.

I don’t think Jack ever loved her. Not like I do. So know this, brother: Penelope is the woman I’m going to marry.

Our plan is to head to Queensland. We’ve got enough to buy a small farm. But first, Pen and I need to go to the police and tell them about Jack. We can’t do that anywhere near Elsie Creek—not with Jack too close for comfort. Worse, I fear whoever is after Jack might use Penelope as bait to get to him.

We both know it’ll take time for the authorities to work out if Pen’s marriage is legitimate or not, and I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes. I’ve left her before to work as a linesman for the new telephone lines, I won’t leave her behind again.

So, I’ve been working on this goldmine. It’s not much, just a cave I’ve reinforced, but it had a rich vein of gold ore. I found it accidentally, chasing a calf when doing the boundary run. Back then it was only a crack in the wall, and being crumbly stuff, it fell away easily to reveal a cave.

It’s where Pen and I would meet in secret. She’d ride through the monsoon forest, and I’d take the long way round. It became our place to be free, and to be together.

But that cave produced enough gold to leave some with you. Don’t worry, Charlie, I’ve got plenty to start my new life with Pen, and well, the lady is loaded. I think she cleaned out Jack’s stash of cash.

Anyhoodle, brother, we’ve got Jack’s papers hidden in Pen’s suitcase. She’s sewn a hidden pocket in there, she’s clever like that.

Just so you know, we haven’t rushed this, because we found that cash in September, the same week I came back to work at the station, that’s when Pen asked for my help to escape. We’ve had our bags packed since October. We have Jack’s passport and all his other paperwork, both fake and real, we just need their marriage certificate. Once we have that, we’ll be making a run for it, fast, which is why I’m writing this now to not forget.

We know Jack is a dangerous man and not to be trusted. I pray he doesn’t take this out on you. So Pen and I reckon you should tell Darcie everything and stay as far away from Jack as you can, little brother.

As I write this letter, you’re out mustering with Darcie, then you said you’ll be droving for a while. Hopefully, you won’t miss me much, until I can send word of where I am. Keep an ear out for the new telephones I installed at the homestead, as I’ll call once we’re settled.

Anyhoodle, the crate of gold I’ve left for you should clear all my debts, even if you wanted none of it back, but you were way too generous, little brother, with your rodeo winnings that you always shared with me. And you did help me buy my car we’re using to run away. Just be sure to save some dosh from the gold, because I want you scrubbing up to be my best man, because, mate, I’m getting married.

In the meantime, take care, little brother. I’ll be taking the family brand, so you’ll always be with me. Keep your chin up, Splinter, and may your arse always sit well in that stockman’s saddle, with that stockwhip whirling like the wind, as you keep an eye on an outback sunrise.

From your big brother,

Harry.

Bree folded up the letter, slid it back inside the envelope, and placed it in front of her grandfather. ‘I don’t know about you two, but that doesn’t sound like a letter from a murderer.’

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