Inheritance (21 page)

‘Let’s hope it comes to something. How I’d love to see rain!’

‘Me, too.’

After resting the horses for a while, they remounted and continued at a leisurely pace across the paddocks. They reined in the horses as Rosie pointed out the station truck in the distance, a trail of cattle converging on it from all sides.

‘That’ll be Daniel and Tony hand-feeding. Let’s go see them,’ Cassie said.

They galloped across the paddock, slowing to a walk as they reached the moving cattle.

Daniel stood on the tray of the truck, pitching feed off to the following animals. They rode up alongside the slowly moving vehicle, calling out to Daniel as they did.

‘Hi, Daniel. Keep going. Stop at the fence,’ Cassie called. The two girls rode on ahead of the truck, keeping out of the way.

When they reached the fence, Daniel banged on the cabin and Tony, inside, stopped the truck. Daniel jumped down to the ground and the girls dismounted.

‘Anything wrong?’ Daniel asked with a worried frown.

‘No. We were out riding and thought we’d see how things are,’ Cassie reassured him.

His face brightened and he smiled. ‘Good to see you both. I don’t see much of you, Cassie. How do you think they’re holding up?’ He indicated the cattle, munching on the feed trailed out behind the truck.

‘They’re a bit lean. But that’s only to be expected. Otherwise, they look good.’

‘We’ve been lucky so far, but we may have to go further afield for fodder soon.’

Rosie pointed to the sky. ‘Those clouds are coming closer. They’re getting darker, too.’ She turned to Daniel. ‘What do you think?’

‘It’s hard to say, at this time of year. Could blow away.’

Cassie kicked at the parched earth with the toe of her boot. Spurts of dust flew up. ‘It seems hard to believe that this is usually covered with green feed. With everything so dry, I guess we’re lucky to have as many calves as we’ve had this year.’

‘Yes, we are. Now, I’d better get back to work…unless there’s anything else, Cassie?’

‘No. We’ll get on with our ride. See you later, Daniel.’

Daniel sprang onto the tray of the truck and banged on the roof of the cabin. As the truck started on its slow way again, he picked up the fork ready to continue pitching feed. The girls mounted their horses and turned back the way they had come.

Suddenly Rosie looked up and pointed. ‘Hey, look at the clouds!’

Cassie looked up to see they had indeed rolled in quickly. As she watched, they scuttled across to cover the sun. A breeze sprang up causing the tops of the trees to sway. The girls turned their horses’ heads towards the river. By the time they reached it, the wind was strong enough to make the water choppy.

That night, a thread of hope ran through the station. The sound of wind and distant thunder, and far away flashes of lightning, had them rushing outside, but the storm didn’t come close. In a short time, the distant rumbles faded away.

Cassie went outside before she went to bed. Pewter-grey clouds covered the sky, obscuring the moon and stars. All was silent; no thunder, even the wind had dropped. She sighed.

If only the rain would come!

As Cassie slipped between the sheets, she had a fervent prayer on her lips. She lay awake for a long time, listening in vain for the sound of rain on the roof.

The silence of the night seemed to magnify every sound and the throb of a motor bike came faintly in the distance. She heard it coming closer and the noise grew. Cassie was surprised to hear it so clearly, it wasn’t usual to hear traffic noise from the road so loud. Now it sounded as if it was on Yallandoo. But who would be calling at this hour of the night? Cassie slipped out of bed and looked out. No, there was no sign of anyone. Everything was dark and quiet again. It must have been just passing, she decided, and hopped back into bed. This time she fell asleep almost instantly.

In the morning, she asked Rosie if she had heard the sound. ‘I’m sure it was a motor bike and it was so clear, it sounded as if it had come on to the property. But when I looked out, I couldn’t see a thing.’

‘No, I didn’t hear anything; I guess I was fast asleep. But I’ve heard that a couple of times. I guess someone who goes past often has a noisy bike.’

‘I guess that’s what it is. More importantly, our storm came to nothing.’

‘Yeah.’ Rosie grimaced. ‘It’s gone.’

Outside, the sun shone down from a cloudless sky.

***

After breakfast Cassie walked over to the staff quarters and knocked on Sam’s door. After a slight delay, she heard feet shuffling across the floor. Sam opened the door and a broad smile lit up his face as he held the door wide for her to enter.

‘Cassie, I thought you forgot all about old Sam.’

‘Never, Sam,’ she replied, giving him a hug before taking the chair he pulled out for her. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you sooner. How are you?’

‘Pretty good for an old man. The young fellas think I’m finished ’cause I’m not as quick as I used to be, but I reckon I can still show them a thing or two.’

‘I reckon you can, Sam.’

‘I been teaching that young Larry a few things. Good kid.’

‘That’s great, Sam. I still remember a lot of what you told me when I was little.’

‘Yes, you’re a good girl, Cassie. Good for us. Like all your family.’

‘You know I’ll always look after you, Sam, and the aboriginal ways too. That’s one reason I came to see you today. Sam, I want to do some new things on Yallandoo. I want to tell you about it.’

‘You mean about the cabins ’n things?’

Cassie laughed. ‘I should have known you’d already know. Not much happens you don’t know about, does it?’

‘I gotta keep an eye on things, you know.’

‘Of course. Then do you know I’m planning on taking visitors to the cave to see the paintings?’

He nodded. ‘Yeh.’

‘Is that all right, Sam?’ Cassie wanted his approval. ‘I’d make sure that people couldn’t touch them, erect a railing or something. I’d make sure they’re protected. Is it all right with you?’

He nodded again. ‘Yes, okay.’

‘How would you feel about taking people up there, explaining the paintings to them?’

He grinned widely. ‘I can do that. Tell ’em all about the Dreamtime. People know bugger all. I’ll tell ’em. Good stories. They’ll love it.’

Cassie laughed. ‘It sounds as if you’d love it, too, you old devil.’ Sam chuckled and nodded again. A cloud came over Cassie’s face. ‘That’s if I get approval to go ahead, of course.’

‘You’ll get approval, all right.’ He nodded his head and sounded confident.

‘Well,’ she said slowly. ‘You sound as if you’re sure.’

He nodded his head again, smiling. ‘Sure.’ Suddenly the smile slipped from his face and he regarded Cassie with concern. ‘Not everything’s good round here, though. Some people don’t care about us. Some people just care about money. Bad, greedy.’ He shook his head. ‘Gonna do some harm.’

Cassie’s heart lurched with fear at his words and she drew a sharp breath. ‘What do you mean? Something to do with the cabins?’

He shrugged his shoulders, suddenly inscrutable as he seemed to withdraw into himself. ‘Can’t say.’

‘You don’t know?’ She shook her head with dismay. ‘Who are you talking about?’

‘People round about.’

‘Who?’

He shrugged.

‘No one on Yallandoo, surely?’

‘Can’t say.’ He shook his head.

Taking a deep breath, Cassie persisted in trying to find out more information. ‘Working here, perhaps? Or is it someone from outside?’

He shrugged again, shaking his head. ‘Can’t say. But bad things could happen. You gotta watch out, Cassie.’ His head nodded. ‘Take care. I’m goin’ away soon for a while. You take care.’

‘But what’s it all about? Surely you can tell me that!’

He just shook his head, his lips pursed.

‘What do I have to watch out for?’

‘Just watch out.’

Cassie searched her mind, trying to find something to spark a response from Sam. ‘Does this have to do with the cave paintings?’

‘No. Other places, other things.’

‘What places? What things?’

Silence.

‘But it is on Yallandoo?’

‘Yeh.’ Sam nodded vigorously

‘What do you think’s going to happen?’

No reply.

‘Has anything happened yet?’

Again no response.

‘But it is about Yallandoo?’ Cassie persisted.

‘Yeh.’ Nodding again.

‘How do you know this?’

He replied, simply, ‘I know.’

The next morning, Sam was gone.

As Cassie walked back to the homestead, she pondered what Sam had told her. She had never known him to be so upset. For a brief moment, she wondered if he was becoming fanciful in his old age. But she remembered his bright eyes, glittering with intelligence. No, there was no dimming of reason there. He was still as astute as ever.

Which meant something was going on, something that caused him great concern. Something here on Yallandoo. Which would involve her. But what? And who could be involved? Someone she knew, he said.

Arriving back at the house, Cassie went to find Rosie. She found her standing by the joey’s pen, which had been moved out to the garden at the back of the house, holding a bottle of milk that Hoppy was guzzling. Cassie walked over to stand by her friend, watching as a tiny rivulet of milk dribbled down from the animal’s mouth.

‘So…what’s up?’ asked Rosie. ‘You look as if you “lost a dollar and found a cent,” to quote one of my mother’s sayings.’

‘I’ve just had a rather disturbing chat with Sam.’

Rosie raised an eyebrow. ‘He doesn’t want the cave open to the public?’

‘No, he’s happy with that. He says there’s some trouble happening, or about to happen.’

‘What, here?’

‘Yes.’

‘What sort of trouble?’

‘He didn’t really say. Except that it has something to do with people being greedy and not caring about…us, only the money.’

‘Is that all he said?’

‘Yes, well…no. He said it’s someone around here who’s going to cause trouble.’

‘Someone you know?’ Rosie frowned.

‘He wouldn’t say. Or what the trouble is, or when it’s going to happen. Not much to go on, is it?’

‘No, it’s not. Hmm.’

Hoppy finished his bottle. Rosie took the empty bottle from his mouth as he sucked air. ‘There you are,’ she told him, wiping the milk around his mouth with a tissue. ‘Greedy little bugger, aren’t you? No wonder you’re growing so fast.’

They walked inside to the kitchen. Rosie rinsed the bottle and teat under the tap and turned them upside down to drain. She filled the kettle and plugged it in to boil, then made tea for them both. They carried their cups outside to the verandah and sat down before continuing the conversation.

‘Look, I wasn’t going to tell you this. I didn’t want to upset you and it’s probably not important. But in light of what Sam’s said, I’d better tell you.’

‘Tell me what?’

‘When I was in Cairns a couple of days ago, I saw Jason.’

Cassie went cold. ‘Jason! You mean that Jason?’

‘Yes. Your ex…er…friend.’

‘Are you sure it was him?’

‘Positive. He came out of the Holiday Inn, stood outside and looked around for a bit, so I had a good look at him.’

‘Did you speak to him?’

‘No. He didn’t see me and I certainly didn’t want to speak to him.’

‘Sam said it’s someone I know who’s going to cause the trouble. I wonder if it’s him.’ The thought caused a pulse to start beating in her temple.

‘How could he?’ Rosie bit her nail as she thought. ‘What did Sam mean? We haven’t got much to go on! Trouble, but we don’t know what kind. People who don’t care about ‘us’. Did he mean the aborigines? Well, that applies to half the people in Australia, I reckon…or more. Only care about the money! Ditto. Bad people? Plenty of those around. Greedy? Like him?’ She jerked her head towards the joey. ‘Plenty like that.’ She pondered for a moment. ‘Does ‘us’ mean his people, or all of us here? What do you think?’

Cassie shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I think he didn’t want to say much, just warn me. He always seems to know everything that’s happening around here.’

‘He’s a shrewd old bugger, I’ll give you that. I bet he doesn’t miss much. Maybe he’s seen something going on, something we don’t know about?’

‘Hmm. Maybe.’

‘So what do we do?’

‘Keep our eyes open. Watch out for anything unusual that might happen or anyone acting suspiciously. He said he couldn’t say who’s involved.’

‘Couldn’t…or wouldn’t?’

‘Couldn’t, I think.’

‘That leaves it pretty wide open.’ Rosie said nothing for a moment, thinking. ‘Anyway, how does he know all this?’

‘How does he ever know anything?’

‘Yeah, well, it’s all a bit spooky.’

‘He often knows when things are going to happen. You know that. He’s not usually wrong. It’s just the way he is.’

‘Then I guess we better keep our eyes open. Now, don’t be too worried about Jason. I can’t see he can do much. After all, he’d be the first one to be suspected if anything happened round here.’

Cassie was not so sure. ‘I hope you’re right!’

***

Time dragged by in slow-motion for Cassie.

Her talk with Sam had upset her, worry gnawed at her. Apprehension filled her when she thought of Jason so close. She had the uneasy feeling of waiting for something unpleasant to happen.

Every day Cassie peered hopefully at the sky. Clouds appeared more frequently now, and the air felt oppressive. The days became hotter and the humidity climbed. How she longed
for rain. But as each day passed, distant rumbles of thunder could often be heard, but they died away without fulfilling their promise of a storm.

When the wind sprang up, dust blew across the dry paddocks, grit that could fill the eyes and the nostrils in the space of a few moments. Closing the windows made the conditions inside the house more oppressive.

Then one morning Cassie woke to hear rain pattering on the roof. Springing from her bed, she raced outside.

Rosie was already in the garden, holding out her hands to feel the drops and dancing a jig in her nightdress. Cassie joined her and together they laughed and danced around the garden. The rain came down heavier and soon they were both drenched, wet hair dripping and their thin night clothes sticking to their bodies. It was raining in earnest now and they finally went inside to towel themselves dry and dress in dry clothes.