Chapter 18

Albie should have knownthat Percy would love it. The speed of it, the thrill. The danger, the rush.

They didn’t even get close to rounding up the wild horses.

But part of Albie didn’t even mind.

He hadn’t been down this side of the cliff face since he was a young boy. As they rode down toward the river, he pulled Minnie up and pointed behind them. “Percy, look.”

Percy stopped and looked up at the sheer rock face that jutted several hundred yards straight up. “What’s up there?” Percy asked.

“Home,” Albie replied.

Percy’s eyes went wide. “All the way up there? Did we come down that far?”

He nodded to the far end of the cliff face. “Further that way. But now you can see how far you almost fell.”

Percy paled a little. “Wowzers. That’s quite a drop. I don’t remember it being so high up. It was misty, I guess. Hard to see.”

And because he’d knocked his brain about in his skull.

But suddenly the fact he’d only taken a knock to the head made it seem trivial. It could have been so much worse. Albie didn’t need to say that because, from the look on Percy’s face, he seemed to be thinking the same thing.

They rode on for a while, heading further downward, enjoying the warm sunshine, the birdsong, the crickets.

The flies, not so much.

“Ugh,” Percy said, swishing his hand in front of his face. “I forgot about flies. The best thing about living up there,” he gestured to the mountain behind them. “Is the lack of flies.”

“Just wait for summer,” Des said.

“Especially when you’re mucking out the stables,” Robert added.

Albie laughed at Percy’s expression.

They reached the river, and each of them slid down from their horses. They let them drink and eat the green grass by the shade of the trees, and everyone pretended not to notice how Des limped on his leg, grimacing as he lowered himself down onto the grass.

Despite the obvious pain, he looked remarkably happy to be riding like this again. And that made Albie smile.

Albie took a moment to appreciate it all. Not just the view, but how his men were working together as a team.

He wished his dad were here to see this.

“It’s beautiful down here,” Percy said. “How far is the road from here?”

“A fair way,” Albie said. “Though I was just a boy the last time I came down here. Why?”

“Well, I just wondered if it’s kinda close, why your house is up there and not down here?”

Des and Robert both stayed silent. Whether they were waiting on Albie’s version of an answer or if they didn’t know, he wasn’t sure.

“The road past home was built first, probably. The bullock road this way came after,” Albie answered. “And the only access to the road from here is through Crown land. I don’t remember much of what my father said about it, only that he wouldn’t pay the government one penny for access to his own land.”

Des smiled at that. “Yeah, that about sums it up. From what he told me too.”

“Makes sense,” Robert said.

Percy frowned. “I thought Crown land had a right-of-passage clause.” He pursed his lips. “Could be wrong. Maybe it’s different here, but I remember my grandfather getting permission and it never cost him a single penny. My grandfather would have raised hell if it did.” Then he shrugged. “Could be a different permission. It’s not like I’m an expert in such things.”

Albie stared at him, as did Robert and Des. “You know about these things?”

Percy made a face. “Only what I heard.” He met Albie’s gaze. “Could be worth asking your father’s lawyer when we get into town.”

“What would I do with the access anyway?” Albie wondered out loud.

“Build a second house,” Percy answered simply. “Down here. Run a second farm. Lotta flat grasslands down here just doing nothing for cattle and sheep. Maybe even just in winter when it’s too cold up on top of the mountain. Lambs’d be ready for the spring that way.”

Albie stared at him in disbelief.

Could it be that simple?

No, of course not.

“You wouldn’t even need a whole house,” he added. “Just a hut, basically. You and me could come down here for the winter and run some sheep and horses while Des and Robert manage the main farm up there.”

Des laughed, a long strand of grass sticking out of his lips. “Just full of ideas, aren’t ya.”

“Ain’t had a bad one yet,” Percy said with a grin.

Robert snorted. “This one hasn’t exactly panned out too well.”

“It’s not finished yet.”

Albie unpacked some lunch and they ate a quick bite in the shade by the river. The water was cold but refreshing, wide and shallow enough for them to cross over. Their boots barely got wet in the stirrups as they rode through, and guessing the wild horses were long gone, they headed southeast through the hills and woodlands to the valley that would eventually bring them out to the road.

The valley was walled by steep, rocky outcrops, and it was probably part of the river system at some point, Albie’s father had once said. He couldn’t decide if this part of his land now looked bigger or smaller now that he’d grown up.

When he’d been a boy, it’d all looked so big, but he never really appreciated the size of it until now.

Until it was his.

Could he utilise this parcel of land as Percy had suggested?

The river, or creek—whatever they wanted to call it—certainly made it valuable. But the sheer cliffs that divided his property in two had made it unfathomable, too difficult. But he’d never considered running it as a separate property to the land they farmed up on the mountains.

Maybe he could ask his lawyer when they were in town. Maybe he could re-read the papers he’d signed after his father’s funeral.

Des snapped his fingers, and it caught their attention. He pointed then, and they all followed his line of sight to see what he was looking at...

And there through the woodlands, down on the next slope, was the mob of wild brumbies.

Des pointed to himself and Robert, then to the far west. “We’ll go round,” he whispered. Albie didn’t think the horses would hear, but Des clearly wasn’t taking any chances. Then he nodded to Percy and Albie. “Stay here. We’ll flush them out, and you block them. We’ll funnel them into the valley.”

Percy’s grin was contagious, and Albie nodded. “Be safe,” Albie said.

Des gave him a serious nod. “Be patient. It’s all about the timing. Rush them too soon and they’ll scatter.”

Albie and Percy watched in silence as Robert and Des back-tracked a little, then headed west as Des had said they would. They ambled slowly, as quietly as they could, and when they’d got around the herd, they broke into a gallop.

Robert cracked his whip, the sound biting the air and echoing off the cliffs. The mob startled, looked up, then turned as one and took off, heading straight toward Albie and Percy.

The sound of hooves thundered in time with Albie’s pulse.

“Stay here,” Albie said to Percy, taking Minnie out a little wider. Like their horses knew the chase was on again, both Minnie and Bandit stomped their hooves and pulled on their reins.

Albie’s heart was in his throat, and he saw Percy shift in his saddle a few times, eager to go.

Robert cracked his whip again, the sound biting the air once more, and the mob of brumbies changed direction like a flock of birds.

“Now!” Albie yelled, and he and Percy set off at a gallop, heading straight toward the mob.

Albie took out his whip, gripped the handle, and swung it wide and high, cracking the tip. The sound rang out like a shot, and the wild horses turned again, heading straight toward their only free path.

The funnel of the valley.

Just as Des had said.

Albie rode out wider as the four of them chased the herd into the valley. Des was on the opposite side, Robert and Percy at the rear.

Albie spared a glance back at Percy, concerned and hoping he was keeping up.

Percy’s grin told Albie all he needed to know.

And they continued to ride, herding them.

The stallion that led the brumbies tried to steer them off a time or two, but with a crack of a whip, they soon straightened up.

But Minnie was slowing up. She couldn’t keep galloping forever. And Albie noticed some of the smaller yearlings in the mob were slowing.

Des seemed to notice too. He took out his rope and rode high in his saddle, lassoing circles above his head. He went in close to the mob, their pace slowing a little, and he swung for the stallion.

The lasso slipped over its head and Des pulled them up to a stop. Albie went to the front, and with Robert and Percy at the rear, they boxed the horses in.

The stallion pulled on the rope, rearing up on his hind legs, braying and snorting. The other horses tried to scatter, but they kept them penned in.

But Des pulled harder, and Ox reared up too. He was bigger than the wild stallion, and with Des’s expert touch in the saddle, the stallion eventually quietened.

They gave the horses a few moments to breathe, to calm down.

“Holy shit,” Percy cried out. “Did we do it?”

Just then, one horse made a break for it and Robert edged it back to the herd. “We haven’t done it yet.”

Des, who was still holding the roped stallion tight, said, “Albie, rope him from your side. We’re gonna ride him in like this.”

Albie wasn’t sure if that would work, but he trusted Des. He’d always known he was a great horseman, but he’d never seen him ride like he did today.

Albie took his rope and swung the lasso above his head, aiming for the stallion while trying to hold his line, lest the mob try and escape. He missed, startling the horse, causing him to rear up again, braying and snorting.

Des held his rope tight, and Ox pulled back, keeping the lasso taut. Albie could see Robert and Percy moving, no doubt keeping the restless herd penned in.

He needed to get this.

No second chances.

He circled his lasso above his head, keeping Minnie steady with his left hand, and when the stallion threw his head down, Albie knew he was about to launch upward, rearing up to fight.

He swung his rope high and let it go, and it caught the stallion around the neck.

A perfect shot.

Except then the stallion fought twice as hard, rearing up and snorting, kicking and stomping. The other horses moved, and it took every ounce of strength Albie had to pull and hold him.

“Keep him steady,” Des yelled as they restrained him. “That’s it.”

Albie didn’t dare take his eyes off the stallion, not for a second, but he trusted Robert and Percy to hold the back of the herd.

“Now we’re gonna walk him forward,” Des yelled. “You ready to move ’em up from the rear?”

“Yes, sir,” Robert yelled back.

Albie would revisit and probably laugh at the sir comment later, but for now, all his concentration was on the stallion.

He was a big bay-coloured stallion, at least fifteen hands. He was unkempt and feral, and there was wildness in his eyes. On high alert, ears up, watching every single thing, defiant and proud, even with two ropes around his neck.

Albie had to admire him.

He towered over Minnie. She was just a mountain pony by comparison. But he didn’t have to steer or direct her at all. She knew what to do better than Albie did.

Once they got the stallion to walk without pulling or fighting them, they began to trot.

And, just as Percy said, the rest of the herd followed. Well, with Robert and Percy at the rear.

You only have to control the stallion, Percy had said.

And he’d been right.

It wasn’t an easy ride. The valley had its obstacles: gullies and huge boulders to navigate and far too many trees.

But they barely slowed, keeping a steady pace the whole way. It made the mob more compliant, but their horses were getting tired.

Albie had no clue how long they’d have to ride or how they’d corral them if they had to stop for the night. It was getting on in the afternoon as it was, and he’d noticed Des wincing a time or two, clearly in pain. Albie was having doubts. Doubts that this had ever been a good idea. They should have made a holding yard first.

He should have taken the time and done it properly.

Like his father would have.

He was about to raise the question about stopping when Des wiped his brow and nodded up ahead. “Can you see what I see?”

Albie wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be looking at.

Is that...? Wait. Is that...?

“Is that the road?”

Des grinned at him, opening his water cannister with one hand and taking a sip.

Albie looked behind him, at the tired horses, at the even tireder men. “Are you good to keep going?”

Robert gave some kind of salute while Percy just grinned.

It made Albie’s heart squeeze, and his lips pulled at a returning smile. Then he caught Des wincing again. “What about you?”

“I’ll be fine if I don’t stop,” he answered. “Best to keep ’em moving, yeah?”

Albie gave a nod. He thought so too. And now the ropes around the stallion weren’t so taut, it was less strain on them all.

The leader of the mob was resigned to his fate.

For now, at least.

It really was best to keep them moving. They came up to the road and headed left, back toward the mountains.

Toward Alpine Falls.

The road made for easier riding, that was for sure, but the horses were slow now. Compliant and not an ounce of fight or flight left in them.

They rode and rode; it must have been close to sixteen miles to town. They encountered a few travellers coming in the opposite direction. Twice some men on horseback could get off the road easily enough. Once a wagon had to pull off to the side of the road and stop as they rode past.

It wasn’t every day a team of horsemen brought thirty horses to town, especially with two ropes around the stallion at the front.

But the riders all tipped their hats, bidding them good day and good luck.

And the road got steeper, the ride uphill into the mountains. The mountain on one side, a steep drop-off on the other, and the mob of horses had no choice but to follow the road.

Albie was tired and sore, hungry as hell, and with night falling fast, the temperature along with it. But they passed a gate, then another, and soon more houses, the smell of woodfires on the cold air, and Albie knew they were getting close to town.

It was damn near too dark to ride by the time they rode into Alpine Falls.

“Clear the road!” someone yelled up ahead.

“Get out of their way!” yelled another.

And as they rode in through town, past the baker, the saloon, and the store, they had quite an audience.

People stood along the sides of the road, watching, smiling. Albie didn’t focus on their faces. He was too tired and too focused on the stallion they still had roped at the front of the mob.

He got a bit flighty at the crowd, at the buildings, and the attention. But the streets made like a funnel, and they rode into the saleyard, someone already with the holding yard gate open.

And, just like that, they rode in to cheers and applause from the watching crowd.

Men in workwear, some in neat trousers and jackets, ladies in fine dresses, children with wide eyes and big smiles.

While they were covered in dust and sweat and looking rough and ragged.

But Albie had never been prouder than he had in that moment. He slid down from Minnie and knew the bigger test was upon him. He had to get his rope off the stallion while everyone watched.

He approached the wild stallion slowly, keeping his rope slack. He didn’t want to pull too hard and frighten him. The horses were exhausted and thirsty, and Albie had to use that to his favour. Even as exhausted as it was, Albie could still see the wild fight in the stallion’s eyes.

A hush fell over the crowd as he neared him, and the horse dropped his head a few times, stomping the dirt.

“Easy, boy,” Albie murmured, still inching closer. “Easy there.”

His heart hammered, his mouth dry. Common sense told him he was crazy; his understanding of horses told him otherwise.

This stallion had had enough for one day.

He was run out, the last fight in him was gone.

Albie inched his hand closer, keeping his hands where the stallion could see them. No loud noises, no sudden movements, and he ever so slowly lifted the ropes from around his neck.

The stallion baulked a little, but Albie held his ground, as if the beast somehow knew Albie meant no harm. Albie looked him right in the eye, gave him a nod of respect, and backed away. He climbed the railing just in time to see Percy almost sag with relief.

He, Robert, and Des were off their horses now. Percy held Minnie’s reins, and when Albie climbed down from the railing, Percy lifted both hands in the air. “We did it!” he crowed.

The audience all cheered and Albie couldn’t help but laugh, and whether it was relief, exhaustion or pride, he could have almost wept. Until Des shifted his weight and his leg almost buckled and he grimaced in pain.

Albie and Robert quickly caught him. “Does anyone have a cart?” Albie yelled out. Des was in no shape to walk to the saloon.

“No, I’ll be fine,” Des said. His face was etched in pain. “I can walk.”

“Des—”

“I said I can walk,” he snapped. There was no heat in it; Des was tired, most probably hungry, and most certainly in pain. “Just need to stretch it out some, ’tis all.”

“Fine,” Albie relented. “Robert, make sure he gets to the saloon. Order any food you want, and I’ll speak to them about rooms when I get there. I just need to speak to Mr Bailey.” The saleyard master had to be here somewhere. “Percy, see the horses watered, please?”

“Sure thing,” he replied.

Des made it a few steps unassisted, but when they’d almost reached the line of onlookers, he stumbled again, and Robert was quick to throw Des’s arm around his shoulder.

“Do you need a doctor?” someone in the crowd asked.

“Nah, he needs a drink,” another replied.

“I’ll take neither, thanks,” Des replied, hanging on to Robert. “I’ll be just fine without either.”

Albie smiled after them, leaving the four horses in Percy’s capable hands, and went in search of John Bailey.

* * *

Albie cameout of the saleyard office to find the crowd gone. The mob of horses were settled, the water troughs gleaming in the cool moonlight.

And Percy, standing, waiting, smiling.

Their four horses were tied to the railing, but Albie couldn’t take his eyes off Percy. His hat was in his hands, his blond hair flattened to his head. His face was smeared with dirt and sweat, but that smile... Albie had never seen such a welcoming sight.

“All good?” Percy asked.

Albie gave a nod and folded the receipts and shoved them in his inside coat pocket. “Yeah. Let’s get these horses to the stable.” He gave Minnie’s forehead a scratch. “How’s my girl?”

“She wants hot food and a bath,” Percy replied.

Albie snorted and gave him a gentle shove. “Not you.”

They climbed back into the saddles, leading the other two horses behind them. There was no rush in them now. They were sore and tired and in need of a very big feed of hay in the stables.

“We’re almost done for the day, girl,” Albie said, giving her neck a rub.

“I could say something about not quite being done for today,” Percy replied quietly. “But I’m too tired.”

Albie laughed. “I should think so.”

As they got to the stables, they unsaddled their four horses, fed and watered them, and as tired as he was, Albie still made the time to brush them down.

They’d surely earned that today.

“Do you think Des will be fine?” Percy asked.

Albie gave a nod. “He’ll be sore, no doubt about it. But you know, I think he’s missed this.”

Percy’s eyes got really big. “Did you see how good he was out there today?”

Albie laughed. “Oh, I saw.”

“And you,” Percy said softly. “I’m proud of you.”

“I’m proud of you too,” Albie murmured. “Of all of us. This town has called us a farm of misfits for the last time.”

Percy beamed. “Come on, let’s go eat. And see how Des fared.”

And see if Robert was still sober, Albie thought.

He hated to doubt him. He hated that the drink was a demon Robert had to fight every time he came to town. But sometimes it was an unwinnable fight, and Albie wouldn’t think any less of Robert if he lost that fight today.

But when they got into the bar, they found Des on a seat with his bad leg outstretched onto another chair and Robert telling the story of how Des had lassoed the stallion and never missed a beat to an enraptured audience.

“Here, good man,” one fellow said, trying to hand Robert a mug of ale. “Have a drink. You’ve earned it today.”

It was as if the world stopped turning. The room fell silent, all eyes on him. Robert swallowed hard, raised his hand, and for one moment, Albie thought he’d take the beer.

But he put his palm up. “Not for me, thank you. It does me no good.”

Albie just about burst with pride.

“Des might need it though,” Robert said.

Des waved him off. “Not for me either. Just another water,” he said toward the barman.

“And four of the biggest plates of grub you’ve got,” Albie added. “Whatever’s hot and good.”

Des shifted in his seat, Albie guessed to give the chair to either Albie or Percy. But he winced again and hissed. “Stay as you are,” Albie said. “We can fetch another chair.”

“Sorry,” Des said. “Once I stopped, damn thing seized up on me.”

“You’ll be sore a day or two,” Albie said. “If you want to see the doc before we leave tomorrow...”

Robert sat at the table. “If you need a shot or two of whiskey, don’t deny yourself on my behalf. I’m good with it now.”

Des shook his head. “I’ll be all right.”

“You loved being out there today,” Percy said quietly. “The grin you wore the whole time was telling. And I can tell you, I ain’t ever seen anyone ride as good as you rode today.”

“You shoulda seen me before I got kicked in the side of the knee,” Des said. “I could have taken this whole mob by myself.”

They all laughed, and two women slid plates of corned beef onto the table. “Thank you,” Albie said to them, expecting them to leave. But they didn’t.

But he realised, a little too late and a lot too awkwardly, that the two women only had eyes for Robert and Des. Percy was apparently much quicker on the uptake because he nudged his knee to Albie’s under the table, and when Albie looked at him, he was shoving a forkful of food past his smiling lips.

They ate as quickly as they could while the two women skirted around their table with more water, more bread, gentle smiles, and flirty eyes.

Albie and Percy couldn’t get out of there quick enough.

Albie had paid for two rooms—one for him and Percy, the other for Robert and Des. He probably should have got them separate rooms, but he didn’t want to think about that.

When Albie closed and locked the door behind them, Percy put the lantern on the dresser, turned to Albie, and laughed.

“That was so awkward,” Percy said. “I mean, I hope they have a good night and all. I just don’t need to be there to see it.”

“Agreed,” Albie said, taking his coat off and hanging it on the hook. Then his overshirt, then his boots, and when he sat on the edge of the bed, he fell back, exhausted. “What a day.”

Percy took his coat off and threw it over the corner of a chair, and Albie turned his head to watch as Percy slid his suspenders off his shoulders, letting them fall around his thighs. It was Albie’s favourite part of their undressing ritual.

Oh, he quite liked the reveal of skin too. But there was something about when Percy let his braces down that sang to Albie.

“What are you looking at me like that for?” Percy said with a smirk. “We’re too tired, and if you think I’m spending another day in the saddle like last time...” He shook his head. “It’s all fun and games now, but by tomorrow night, I’ll be back in a hot bath full of aches and regrets.”

Albie chuckled. “I’m just admiring the view. Am I not allowed to look?”

“Looking is fine,” Percy said with a knowing smile. “But looking usually leads to touching, and touching leads to fu?—”

“Other things,” Albie said quickly, cutting him off. “That mouth is too sweet for cussing.”

Percy laughed. “Really? Could you really call what I’ve done to you with this mouth sweet?”

Albie groaned out a laugh. “The sweetest.” Then he had to adjust himself. “Stop talking of these things. Certain parts of my body don’t know I’m too exhausted.”

Percy’s eyebrow rose, full of cheek and hope. “Really?”

Albie threw a wash towel from the bed at him. “No, none of that. Go wash up. I’ll go after you.”

Percy grumbled as he walked out of the room, and Albie closed his eyes for just a second. Only to be woken by the face of an angel, with a light spray of freckles across his nose, bright blue eyes, and his blond hair washed and brushed down.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” this angel said, looking down at him. “Go wash up. You smell like horse sweat.”

Albie rolled off the bed, the angel smacked his backside as he got up, and he begrudgingly went down the hall to the washroom.

Much cleaner and desperate for sleep, Albie went back to their room. He’d hoped that maybe Percy had somehow stayed awake, but no, he was already in bed, sound asleep.

When Albie climbed in, Percy automatically snuggled into his side and Albie’s arm went around his shoulder. He closed his eyes and didn’t move a muscle till morning.

* * *

Both Robertand Des had sly smirks at breakfast, but Albie didn’t want to know.

“Well, you two had a good night,” Percy went and said outright.

They both ducked their heads, but Des cleared his throat, about to say something, when Albie put his hand up. “For the love of everything under the sun, I don’t want to know.”

Percy snorted his cup of tea, and they ate their breakfast in silence.

Smiling, eyes holding silent conversations, but thankfully, without another word.

Des’s leg was still giving him grief. Despite the new skip in his step, his limp was worse, and he grimaced a time or two as they were seeing to their horses.

But Albie knew better than to mention it in front of anyone.

And they’d be home tonight, and then Des could rest easy for a day or two. They all could.

But first he had some business to attend to.

“I want you to come with me,” Albie had said quietly.

Percy gave him a serious nod. “Of course.”

* * *

They walkedinto Mr Flannigan’s office as soon as the door opened for business. The lawyer was surprised to see Albie and even more so to see he’d brought someone with him.

Percy stuck out his hand and gave him a confident smile. “Percy Collins.”

“Nice to meet you,” he replied. “Albie, what can I do for you? I hear you’re quite the talk around town this morning.”

Albie couldn’t help but feel a rush of pride. “Yes, it’s an unexpected visit, sorry for not giving any notice. We rode some wild horses in last night and decided to stay the night.”

“Fair call. There was much chatter in the store this morning. And some interest in that herd. Hopefully that equals a nice profit for you.”

“We can hope.”

“So, what brings you in?” He looked again at Percy, then back to Albie, waiting for an answer.

“Well,” Albie started. “What do you know about getting access through Crown land? Because I was thinking... what if I were to turn the bottom half of my land into a second farm?”

Mr Flannigan’s smile was slow to spread, his eyes fond. “You got some smarts about you, Albie. You are your father’s son. Easements through Crown land are one thing, but first, let’s dig out your title deeds and read that small print.”

Albie gave Percy a smile, hopeful this could actually be happening. Was it possible? Could he run sheep and cattle all year on the lowlands?

Albie wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t hurt to ask, right?

To try?

“Thought you’d be in the mountains forever, Albie,” Mr Flannigan said with a wink. “Now you’re looking at coming down the mountain?”

“I’ll always be a mountain man, sir. Echo Creek is in my blood,” Albie said. “But Percy here is the brains behind it, and he’s more familiar with farming lowlands.”

“Oh?” Flannigan cocked his head, aiming a concerned look at Percy. “Are you doing this for Mr Bramwell, Mr Collins? Or are you doing this together?”

It was Albie who answered. “Together,” he said confidently. “We’re doing this together.”

Flannigan turned his gaze back to Albie. “Am I adding his name to anything officially?”

Albie smiled at Percy, but Percy quickly shook his head, his eyes wide. “Oh no, I’m not a partner.”

Not yet, he isn’t, Albie thought.

There would be one way to have their names on a binding certificate.

“We’ll talk about that,” Albie said, trying not to smile. “But for now, no. It’s just my name.”

But it wouldn’t be, not forever, Albie realised. They’d be joined, equal partners for life, one day. He was sure of it.