Published: 13 Dec 2021

It was during lunch. The three sat around the kitchen table enjoying a salad crafted by Travis from the relatively fresh vegetables Roy had sent up on the previous goods service. Cold meat, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and Travis had thrown in a hand full of black olives from a tin he discovered at the back of a pantry shelf, with a suggested use-by date being the previous December.

“I hate olives!” Bradley complained while extracting the little, by his description, little black buggers and unceremoniously dumped them back in the salad bowel, “it’s the flaming pips, enough to break your flaming teeth.”

“Sometimes you’re impossible to please,” Travis faulted.

“A wife would know what a man desires,” Bradley says while cutting two thick slices of the cold roast beef.

“Wife?” Evan echoed with a grin.

“One of Bradley’s poor attempts at humour, he thinks I’ve been hired as his housemaid,” Travis elucidated.

“No seriously,” Bradley backed away from his repartee, “Roy left a message at the hotel; he may be coming up next week.”

“Did he say why?” Travis asks.

“Nope, but he often says he’s coming only to change his mind. On a more important matter, who’s cooking tonight? No more olives I hope?” Bradley asks as he finished his meal and prepared to head back to the horses.

“Stew,” Travis answered.

“I’m sick of you’re flaming stews,” Bradley retaliated, placing his hat on his head and pushing it as far back as he could until it was in fear of falling to the floor.

“Evan is doing the cooking and he said it will be a surprise.”

“Surprise alright.”

“Hey I had a thought, why don’t you grow your own vegetables?” Evan suggested as he cleared the table.

“Haven’t enough time,” Bradley complained.

“Rubbish, except for watering there isn’t anything else to do, you don’t have to sit and cuddle them all day and tuck them into bed in the evening,” Evan was learning fast from Bradley’s style of humour and often gave it back as quickly as he received it.

“That’s it Evan, water. The tank water is for house use and it’s too far to cart it from the creek,” Bradley explained.

“What about the windmill?”

“Evan has a point and we could also pump up to the tank,” Travis concurred.

“The tank can hold full capacity because of a hole towards the top, besides you don’t want ground water in the house tank, it tastes like shit and is full of minerals and we don’t have a second tank to hold it,” with the suggestion dampened Bradley left for the horses.

“What about that second tank at the rear of the house?” Travis asks as Bradley paused at the door.

“It has a hole at the bottom and the carcass of a long dead possum.”

“Couldn’t it be patched?”

“Suppose so,”

“There you go,” Travis enforced.

“Where do I go?”

“Funny boy,”

“I suppose you have a point, I’ll think about it;” But Bradley wouldn’t and had dismissed it from mind by reaching the verandah.

Bradley had only been gone for less than half an hour when he returned with a most concerned expression. Travis and Evan were finishing the lunch dishes and playing havoc by throwing soap suds at each other when he entered.

Observing Bradley’s expression they halted their frivolity, “what’s wrong?” Travis enquired while receiving a final fling of suds across his shirt.

“Where’s the rifle?”

“It’s in the end room why?”

“I have to shoot something,” Bradley appeared somewhat coy with his explanation.

“That is obvious but what?” Travis asks.

“One of the new foals, it’s met with an accident and is in agony.”

“Which one – I hope not Flash with the star on its forehead?” Evan asks as he had befriended the foal as far as it would call and quickly approach whenever Evan came to the paddock and take hay from his hand.

“I’m afraid so, it was always too friendly for its own good,” Bradley admitted.

“How did it happen?” Travis asks as Bradley went for the rifle.

“I would say that mongrel stallion Roy brought down some time back has given it a kick and broke its leg.”

“How so, it is in the next paddock?”

“Through the fence, the stallion has a nasty gash to the leg as well and the fence is damaged.”

“You can’t shoot it,” Evan gasped.

“I have to Evan, you can’t fix the leg, not out here and even if possible it would never be any good for riding.” Bradley took two shells from a side table drawer. Noticing Travis’ interest he explained, “I may have to shoot the stallion as well.”

“Is it badly hurt?” Travis asks.

“I’m not sure it bolted down the paddock before I could get a good look,” turning to Evan Bradley continued, “Evan you stay here – okay.”

“I’ll come with you,” Travis offered.

“No it is my job and I’ll do it by myself.”

Five minutes passed with both Evan and Travis standing on the back verandah without ability to see where the accident occurred. Another minute and the sound of a single rifle shot echoed about. Evan gulped. Travis placed an arm around Evan and pulled him into a hug. “It’s the way of the bush Evan, it can’t be helped,” he comforted as Bradley returned.

“Done?” Travis questioned.

“Done,” Bradley admitted.

“What about the stallion?”

“It will live but I would love to put a slug between its eyes. It’s been nothing but trouble since Roy brought it here.”

Once again Bradley had recommenced his disappearing act. It wasn’t daily but at least two or three times a week and on one occasion Evan also disappeared soon after Bradley had, only to return some time later and but a few minutes before Bradley.

“Where have you been?” Travis asks attempting not to sound inquiring.

“Swimming,”

“You’re not wet,”

“Dried off by the sun,” Evan says.

“Is there much water in the creek?”

“It is getting a little low.”

“Did you see Bradley; he’s been gone all morning.”

“He wasn’t near the waterhole.”

“So he wasn’t swimming,”

“Couldn’t say,”

Travis laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Evan asks.

“You are becoming as evasive as Bradley.”

“Sorry I don’t mean to be,”

“No it was an observation not a criticism. Come on you can give me a hand with lunch.”

Eventually it was time for Evan to return to Mareeba and although he had not told the others of his decision, Travis decided to join him for one last home visit before he commenced his long planned adventure. Firstly he would take the offer of work to familiar himself with the area with a family who had a small holding near Mt. Surprise, and then once he had built up enough courage he would head out alone.

Travis heard of the position of station hand from a passing stockman at the hotel and had contacted the property owner by mail, receiving a prompt answer, declaring he could have the position while asking when he could start.

Travis thought the offer a little strange, as he was hired without his future employer giving him the once-over or questioning his ability but then again folk in the back blocks tended to be somewhat trusting and if Travis’ didn’t appear to fit his needs the man could reject him before he started.

Other than being anxious at the prospect of taking on his first real work, Travis did have one other problem and that was how to tell Bradley of his intention, so he decided to leave doing so until he returned from his trip to Mareeba, when he would call in and speak with Roy of his intention.

“Are you sure you won’t join us?” Travis asks Bradley on the night before he and Evan were to catch the Mareeba train.

You’ve tried that one before, who’s going to look after the flaming horses?” Bradley declared, becoming annoyed with Travis’ persistence.

“We could get Ben Jones and some of his mob to help he knows horses.”

“Sure and when we return the stock would be starving and the house emptied.”

“I don’t like leaving you with the extra work.”

“Who wants a beer?” Bradley opened the refrigerator.

“I’ll have one,” Evan says as he collected a pack of cards from the kitchen drawer.

“Don’t you go telling anyone I feed you grog okay,” Bradley warned.

“Yes you’re old man would go into spasms,” Travis suggested.

“Dad wouldn’t care; it would be mum and her church group of wowsers – who’s for a game of gin-rummy?”

No one agreed but Evan set up the card table anyway.

“We often played cards at the hostel, there was bugger all much else to do,” Travis admitted.

“Knowing you it was most likely strip poker.”

“Soggy-biscuit,” Travis laughed.

“What’s the fuck is that?” Bradley asks.

“Never mind, I don’t think you would see the funny side of the game.”

All three sat at the table while Evan shuffled the cards, “soggy-biscuit,” Bradley curiously repeated but Travis wasn’t forward with an explanation. Evan dealt the cards but neither picked up their hand.

“About leaving me alone, do you think I carve for company Travis?” Bradley says.

“I was referring to the extra work,”

“Shit Travis, I was alone before you arrived and managed well enough. I don’t need a nursemaid.” Bradley paused, “or a wife or a mother,” he continued while giving his usual cheeky smile. He picked up his hand of cards and immediately returned them to the tabletop, “but it is my opinion you’ve got something else on your mind,” Bradley furthered as his smile dissolved.

“I’ll only be gone a few days,” Travis promised while disregarding Bradley’s question.

“And the rest,” Bradley interjected.

“What do you mean?” Bradley’s declaration confused Travis as he had not told anyone about his intentions, not even Evan.

“When you go to Mt. Surprise,” Bradley says softly.

“How did you know about that?” Travis asks quizzically.

“Why was it supposed to be a secrete? Travis I’ve been around the bush long enough to know how to tap into its telegraph, I heard about your new position when I was at the pub making a telephone call to Roy yesterday.”

“I was going to tell you.”

“When – by letter once you arrived there?”

“After Mareeba. I didn’t wish to upset you and I want to speak with Roy firstly.”

“As I said, I was alone before you arrived and will be after you’ve gone. By the way I’ll be up at sunrise tomorrow, there’s a break in the top paddock fence and a couple of horses are missing, so I won’t be there to see you away on the train.”

Bradley appeared uneasy with their conversation and helping himself to another beer he relocated to the front verandah, obviously not interested in Evan’s game of cards.

Evan collected the dealt hands and returned the pack to its drawer.

“Should we join him?” Evan asks after Bradley had been gone for some time.

“No, he’ll be alright. If you do it will only get him cranky.”

“What about this job Bradley mentioned?” Evan asks.

“It’s nothing really; I thought I’d try working a proper job for a while for the experience.” Although endeavouring to sound confident, Travis appeared as if he were attempting to convince himself.

“What work is it?”

“It is for a stockman on a small property a short distance from Mr. Surprise, I heard about it some weeks back and thought it would be a good start.”

Bradley returned from his quiet on the verandah.

“I’m off to bed, I’ll say goodnight then and say my goodbyes when you leave for the station.”

“Bradley,” Travis says with concern.

“It’s alright Travis, really and I can understand why you didn’t say anything.” Bradley appeared calm.

“I should have,”

“I think we have known each other long enough not to allow such a small thing bother,” Bradley stood for a moment.

“What about the break in the fence, will you need help as we have until the afternoon?”

“It will take but a few minutes besides I have already made it safe but it is the missing horses that concerns.”

“What can you do?”

“I’ll take a ride and see if I can round them up, so let Roy know when you see him – goodnight.”

“Goodnight, see you in the morning,” Travis called after Bradley.

“Is Bradley upset?” Evan asks.

“One never knows with Bradley but I think not he is a lot stronger than he may appear and more independent than he lets on.”

“What about our meeting in Forsayth?” Evan asks his tone laced with uncertainty.

“It’s still on;” Travis paused, “that is if you really want to join me.”

“It will be fun.”

“It’s not one of Greg’s promises?” Travis didn’t wish to raise hopes.

“If I promise something Travis I keep with it,”

“Well I’ll be in Forsayth on the Tenth of November and if you are still interested.” Travis was warming to the idea.

“As I said, I’ll be there.”

Gary’s stories are about life in Australia as a gay man. Your emails to him are the only payment he receives. Email Gary to let him know you are reading: Gary dot Conder at CastleRoland dot Net

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