Chapter 2

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Colin was reading the newspaper later in the afternoon on the verandah when Emily walked out and joined him. 'What are you thinking about? You look a million miles away.'

'The stallion.' Colin said as he watched the unhappy horse running around the perimeter of the corral. 'I wonder what Rob's going to do with him.'

'Mmmm.' Emily mumbled as she sat down beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. 'He's a beautiful thing, for sure.'

'He is.' Colin agreed. 'But he's practically un-tameable.'

'I'd like to try and tame him.' Emily said as the stallion cantered around and around. 'I'm sure I could talk to him, maybe get him to settle down some.'

Colin laughed, it was the city girl in Emily that made her think the horse was tameable, but it wouldn't hurt to let her try. 'What did you have in mind?'

Emily pulled an apple from her pocket. 'This.' she said as she got up and walked down the stairs towards the corral.

'Be careful Emily.' Colin cautioned from the verandah. 'Don't go in there.'

'I won't.' Emily replied as she slowly walked to the corral fence and stood there, talking softly to the stallion. 'There there, easy. I know your upset, but you have to calm down. Steady boy, easy.'

Thunder heard her voice and stopped running. For a moment he thought it was Josie, but as he turned around, he saw it wasn't. He swished his mane and pawed the ground, and heard her quiet voice.

'Steady boy, I'm not going to hurt you.' she held out the apple. 'Here, you know you want it.'

Thunder eyed her warily, then slowly step by step walked closer. He walked to the edge of the fence and just brushed the apple with his muzzle and was about to take it when he heard Josie's whistle. He spun around, knocking the apple out of her hand and bolted to the far side of the corral, trying to get as close to the call as he could. He reared up and neighed again and again for all he was worth, but it grew fainter and fainter till he could no longer hear it. He neighed one last time, a more of a sob then a neigh and collapsed on the ground. She had left him here, and she wasn't coming back.

Colin watched the stallions weird behavior from his spot beside Emily, where he had come when the stallion had spooked. 'It's like he was answering a call.'

'Yes.' Emily agreed. 'But what call? I couldn't hear anything.'

'I'm not sure, but he's definitely upset.' He replied as he looked at the stallion on the ground. 'Have you got another apple?'

Emily nodded as she pulled it out. 'Do you want me to try again?'

'No, just throw it to him, I don't want you getting hurt.' Colin said as the dinner bell rang. 'Just throw it to him, then we'll go in for our dinner.'

'Alright.' she threw the apple as close as she could to the stallion, then followed Colin into the house. 'Sorry we're late.'

'No problem.' Math replied as he began to cut up the roast. 'Colin, would you say the blessing?'

'Sure dad.' Colin sat down beside Emily, then began. 'Lord, thank you for the food we are about to eat. Amen.' The Amen was echoed around the table, then everyone began to eat.

'I got a telegram today.' Matt said matter factly as he passed the potatoes around. 'And we might be in for a little bit of trouble.'

'Like what Matt?' Kathleen asked as she served her plate.

'Panthers.'

'Panthers?' Rob almost choked on his water. 'We don't have panthers here.'

'Well, we do now.' Matt said as he pulled the telegram out of his pocket and handed it to Rob. 'There was a train wreck last week on the other side of Ballarat, and four panthers for the circus escaped. They've got one, but the other three are still out there.'

'What's this got to do with us dad?' Danni asked as she handed Michael his plate of food. 'Ballarat is a long way from her.'

'Panthers travel lots of miles Danni.' Colin explained. 'They could be anywhere by now, especially in the high country, where there is a lot of room to hide.'

'Do you think they would have come this far Matt?' Emily questioned. 'I don't like the idea of meeting a panther on the way to the out house.'

'I honestly don't know Emily. Panthers travel huge distances, but if any of you have to go out at night, I want you to take either me or Rob with you. That goes for you too honey.' He looked at Kathleen. 'And whenever any of you go out riding, you must take a gun with you, just till they're all gotten rid of. Panthers are not something to be taken lightly, and if they start killing cattle, we could lose a lot of stock.'

'Do you want us to watch the herds?' Rob grabbed another piece of steak.

'I've already gotten the men on it, but tomorrow I think we should ride out and take a look around, just to be certain. And after that,' Matt looked at Rob. 'You can try to ride that stallion.'

Josie sighed as she looked around the valley as she whistled for Thunder again. There was no sign of him anywhere, or the mares. She gave Trigger a pat, and looked at the setting sun. 'We better get back to camp.' she turned the mare in the direction she had come from, not aware that a pair of green eyes were following her.

She pulled Trigger to a stop as she rode into camp and slid off the mares bare back, then tied her up to the tree. 'Miss me Lass?' she asked the collie who was standing guard over her stuff. 'Lets go get some firewood.' she clicked her fingers and the dog trotted after her, running by her side.

When she got to the pile of wood someone had left in the paddock, obviously planning to come back for it, she went to grab a log when she saw Lass starting to act strange. 'Lass?'

Lass barked at her and herded her away from the pile, then she saw the brown snake sticking its head out of the pile. She danced in front of it, lureing it out, then grabbed it in her teeth and shook it till it was dead. When she had killed it, she trotted back over to her master and barked, letting her know it was safe.

'Good girl Lass, you saved me.' she said as she knelt down and hugged the collie. 'Thanks.' she gave the dog another pat, then saw the sun beginning to sink behind the mountain. 'We better get some wood and get back.' she started to fill up the empty saddle bags with kinderling, then placed it on Lass's back so the dog could carry it, then got her load of wood and headed back.

They repeated it four times, till she had enough wood just as the sun finally set. When she walked into camp the last time, she saw her mare starting to move around, rather jumpy. She dropped the wood and ran over to her just as the mare broke the branch she was tied to. 'Whoa! Steady girl!' she called as she caught the reins, then Lass shot past them and began to bark viciously.

Josie tried to see what had gotten them both riled up, but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. 'Lass, come.' she ordered as she led the mare to the smoldering fire. The dog shot one more bark into the trees, then ran back to the fire. 'What's gotten you so upset hey?' she handed the dog the horses reins. 'Hold. Stay.' she commanded as she pulled the moss off the fire she had used to make it smolder, then built it up, waiting for whatever it was to show its face, but it stayed away….

Thunder was awoken from his rather troubled slumber by a weird scent that was in the air. He snorted and curled his lip up to better smell it, but he couldn't figure it out. It was unlike any wallaby or dingo he had ever smelt. He snorted again and pawed the ground. Whatever it was, was hiding in the shadows around the corral, pacing hungrily.

Thunder snorted again as it came into the light of the moon, then he reared and screamed as the panther leapt the corral fence in one bound. He reared and dodged out of the way as the cat tried to jump on his back, and he screamed again, this time the lanterns in the house getting lit.

'What is it Matt?' Kathleen asked as her husband jumped out of bed, lit a lantern and grabbed the rifle. 'I don't know, stay in here.' He ran out the door into the hallway, where Rob was standing. 'Rob, come on.' Rob didn't ask questions as they ran out of the house and onto the verandah. Matt spied something in the stallions corral, and fired, but missed, the black form jumping over the fence as it ran away.

Colin and Emily ran out of the house. 'What was it dad?'

'I'm not sure.' Matt handed him the rifle, then cautiously went down the stairs, looking on the ground in the light of the lanturn, then he saw the tracks in the dirt. They were larger than his hand. 'One of the panthers was here.' he yells as he stood up and looked around. 'And he's got a hankering for horse meat obviously. He's a big one, my guess is he's at least six foot long.'

'What do we do?' Kathleen asked. 'He could come back at anytime.'

'I'm staying out here. If he returns, I'll get him. You can all go back to bed now. I've got it covered.' Matt sat down on the chair overlooking the corral as they went inside, then Rob came back with some blankets and another rifle. 'Aren't you going back to bed?'

'No' Rob shook his head. 'I'm staying out here with you. That panther will be back, and two pairs of eyes are better than one. We'll be ready for him.'

Montana sighed the next morning when she found the carcass of one of her colts on the ground in the morning frost. She looked at the tracks and followed them till she lost them in the forest, but she was certain it was a big cat. She wondered how on earth one of them was loose in the high country as she tacked up her mare to ride over to Langara. She couldn't figure it out as she rode over, passing Kathleen, Danni and Michael on the way. The sun was quickly rising and when she got to Langara, she was surprised to see them already out at work with the stallion. 'Howdy folks.' she greeted as she dismounted and tied her horse to the post. 'That stallion doesn't look like he's calmed down any.'

'Hello Montana.' Matt said as she walked over to where they were watching Rob trying to get the stallion to cooperate, but wasn't having much luck. 'What brings you out so early?'

'Something killed one of my horses last night.' she said as she watched Rob trying to get the bridle on the stallion in the crush. 'I know this sounds weird, but I think its a-'

Matt cut her off. 'Panther.'

'Excuse me?'

'It's a panther.' He explained. 'It had a visit here last night too, but we scared him off.' He saw Colin go over and help Rob tack up the stallion. 'There's three of them, they escaped from a train wreck last week.'

'Oh great, when I just thought it was one, we have three!' Montana replied with sarcasm. 'Wonderful, just wonderful.'

Matt chuckled. 'Yeh, sorry to break the bad news.' He watched as Rob cinched up the girth on the saddle and get on the stallion. 'Careful Rob.'

'Yes dad.' Rob picked up the reins and nodded for Colin and him to open the crush.

Thunder exploded out, tearing around the corral, bucking and bellowing, tearing up the ground and sending the dirt flying. He wheeled around as he bucked, twisting and turning, then racing around the corral as fast as he could, then repeated the bucking, leaping higher and higher. He gave one final huge buck, then came back down with all four legs, slamming Rob's head into the saddle, then he bolted forward and crashed against the fence, bucking and rearing. He grabbed the reins in his mouth, and snatched them out of his riders hands, then made one more evil buck that sent the rider flying over the fence.

Thunder roared as he ran to the fence, breaking the bridle as his leg stepped through it, the he turned his attention to the saddle, breaking the girth using the fence, then he reared up and pounded the saddle into pulp, before snorting with his head held high as he walked back to the far side to sulk.

Rob panted as he sat on the ground outside the yard as Matt knelt beside him. 'Might have been better to let him be panther dinner.' he chuckled as he pinched his bleeding nose, for the second time in two days.

Matt patted his sons shoulder as he handed him a handkerchief. 'You stayed on him for a while though.' He helped him to his feet. 'that might be enough for today, unless Colin or Montana wants to have a go.'

Montana laughed. 'I'll pass thanks. I have a panther to track.' she looked at Rob. 'When you want to stop riding crazy horses, I have a couple mules who need breaking in.'

'Very funny Montana.' Rob replied as she got on her horse. 'If you need panther bait, I know the perfect horse.' he glanced at the stallion. 'Although maybe he'd kill the panther instead. He's crazy alright.'

'Well, I'll see you guys later.' Montana replied as she rode off. 'I hope the next time I see you Rob your alive and not in a coffin cause of that horse.'

'Don't worry, I wont.' Rob shouted after her, then looked at the stallion. 'Looks like you win, mate.'

'Not quite yet.' Colin said as he walked out of the barn carrying another set of tack. 'My turn.'

Thunder rolled his eyes as the man walked over with the tack. When would they figure out that he only let one person on his back. He was about to change at the man when he heard Josie's whistle again, and it lit a fire in him. He reared up again and called to her, then spun around and charged at the fence, intending to jump, but a rope was thrown around his neck before he had the chance.

'Not so fast, mister.' Colin said as he held the rope tight. 'Come on, it only makes it worse if you fight.'

Thunder reared up, but Rob caught him too, and between them they dragged him back into the crush to tack him. He heard Josie's whistle again, and he put up even a harder fight, trying to break though the slip poles, but they held tight. As he reared to whinny to her, the bit was shoved into his mouth, then something inside him ticked. Time to have some fun.

He waited till the man was on his back, then the slip rails were opened. Colin was expecting the horse to explode under him, but the stallion merely trotted out and stopped in the middle of the corral.

Thunder looked around at his rider and winked, then leapt up clean into the air, sending him flying. He neighed a chuckle as he flew, then pawed the ground, then he heard the call again. With a snort, he charged at the fence and jumped, but he hit the top rail and fell down on the ground with a crash. He stood up, dazed, then collapsed again, puffing and panting.

Colin looked at Emily in horror as she climbed into the corral and ran to the stallion. 'Emily! Get out of there! He'll kill you!'

'He won't be doing any killing at the moment.' Emily replied as she pulled the saddle off the horse, then pulled off his bridle. 'He's winded himself good.' she saw the men coming to enter the pen, and felt the stallion tense up. 'Don't come in. He needs to be left alone for now.' she picked up the bridle and saddle and threw them onto the fence before climbing out. 'So, what are you going to do with him now?'

Rob looked at the heaving horse. 'I don't know. I guess worst case scenario we shoot him, but I don't want to do that. I guess we'll just leave him here and let him have a few days and try again. What do you think Colin?'

Colin brushed off his clothes as he stood up. 'He's your horse Rob, but I wouldn't trust him. He's a smart one, that one, and at the moment, he's winning the game by miles.'

'Thanks for your kind words of encouragement Parson.' Rob teased. 'Nice of you to point that out.'

'Well.' Emily said as she walked over to them, rather irritated. 'The next time you try to kill yourself, can you please make sure I'm not here.'

Colin looked at Emily and realized how worried she would have been. 'Sorry darling, but breaking horses is a way of life up here. I'll try not to get myself killed though dear.'

'Hmm.' Emily replied as she glanced at him, still pretending to be angry, but she was impressed he had tried. 'You better keep that promise.' she teased. 'But don't you guys have panthers to go hunt now?

Josie looked over the empty valley worriedly. Thunder hadn't shown up for his ride for the last two days, so she had gone out to search for him. She patted Trigger as whistled for Thunder, as she thought of what to do next, then nudged the mare down the slope to the valley to look for tracks. When they reached the bottom, she could clearly see the tracks of the herd, mingled with the tracks of shod horses.

She instantly knew what had happened, and kicked her horse into a gallop, following the tracks. As she came over a rise, she saw the new fence, saw the tracks entering the gate and spurred the horse faster for the jump. She let the horse stretch out, then collected her as they landed, never moving from her position on the barebacked mare.

Josie pulled the mare to a stop for a minute, to look around, the mare jumping beneath her, then she let Trigger have her head and galloped her after the tracks. As they came over a rise, she saw a station come into view and slid the horse to a stop, the mare half rearing in protest.

She couldn't risk anyone seeing her, so she rode off into the trees and tied up the mare before creeping down closer. All was quiet at the station, and she realized that it was Sunday, so they would all be at church. She run to where she could see better, then she saw the stallion in the corral, and the other horses in the pens. Quickly she ran down towards Thunder, and called him. 'Thunder!'

Thunder wheeled around at the call and saw Josie running to meet him. He gave a delight whinny and cantered to the fence, sticking his head through to get a pat.

'How did you end up here, mister?' Josie asked as she scratched him behind the ears where he liked it, then looked around. All was silent. 'Let's get you out of here.' she ran to the other side, where the gate was, Thunder following her. She looked at the heart chain and lock in dismay, then heard the sound of a wagon coming. 'I'll be back for you.' she gave him one last pat, then took off into the barn to hide, till she could run back where she had left Trigger.

Thunder whinnied after her longingly as the McGregors pulled up in front of the house. He saw Rob look at him, and he pinned his ears back, then snorted as he walked over to him, pawing the ground.

'I see you got your sass back again.'Rob commented as he got a bucket of water for the horses. 'But today I'm not riding you, so count your lucky stars.'

'I'll put the team away.' Colin said as he helped Emily out of the wagon, then unhitched the horses.

'Thanks Colin.' Rob said as he followed the others into the house. 'Check Daisy's shoe while your at it, I think its loose.'

'Right.' Colin led the team into the barn and un-harnessed them before putting them back in their stalls. As he went to leave, he heard the hay in the loft rustle, and decided to check what had caused it when Rob walked in. 'Your right, Daisy's shoe is loose.' He forgot about checking the loft. 'I'll fix it after lunch.'

Josie shook slightly as she heard the conversation below her, praying that they wouldn't come up into the loft and find her. Eventually, they left the barn and Josie breathed a sigh of relief as she climbed out of the loft. She saw the barrel of oats, and quickly decided to swipe some while she was there. Quietly, she filled a small, hessian bag then fled out the back door, back to Trigger to await nightfall.

Josie sat with Trigger, watching the station while night fell. She made an amused smirk with the way Thunder was treating the men, and knew he was making it hard for them. Finally night fell and she waited till there was no lights left on in the house before making her next move. Quietly she slipped from tree to tree, creeping closer and closer to the station. She hid beside the barn till she was sure that they were all asleep, then she ran to the gate.

'Ssssh boy.' she cautioned as he was about to whinny. 'quiet and let me work.' she pushed him away as he nibbled on her hair. 'Go on.'

Josie looked at the lock in the moonlight, figuring out how to open it. Quickly she pulled out a couple hair pins, and set to work. It only took a few tries, but finally the lock opened and the chain dropped to the ground. She carefully opened the gate, making sure it didn't squeak, then motioned Thunder to go out and closed the gate behind him. 'Lets go.' she whisper exhausted as she vaulted on, then nudged him into a gallop across the darkened plains back to Trigger…