Chapter 4,
With his horse in the paddock and a fire crackling quietly, Heath sat back and watched the sun setting. Nearby the windmill clanked quietly as it turned in the lazy breeze.
"Its paradise isn't it?" Tess asked as she appeared beside him offering him a cold beer can.
"Yeah love a good sunset." Heath replied as he accepted the beer.
"You've probably seen a few."
"Yeah you see plenty in my work, Kookaburras laughing at the sunrise, cocky's screeching at ya, Willy Wagtails been game little buggers." He paused. "I bloody love this country." He finished, taking a swig of the can. Tess smiled, it was strange seeing this work hardened and weathered bloke, talk about something like he was describing a work of art.
"Ill see you in the morning, lots to do."
"No worries, Ill be there to help, gotta earn me keep."
"Night." She said as she turned away.
"Good night Tess."
The next morning Claire and Stevie walked outside to see Heath standing there with his horse saddled.
Ready to work Boss." He said with a ready grin.
"Okay that's great, we have to muster Skinny Jims and bring the cattle up for drenching."
"No worries." Heath replied as he sprang into the saddle.
"How can you do that so easily?" Jodi asked. "You've spent weeks there and yet you do it like you aren't sore."
Wheeling his horse around, "Easy, after all the time I've spent in this saddle, you'll notice my legs are bowed, my bone structure has altered due to repetitive use."
"If only, oh wait, no! I don't want bowed legs."
"Youll be right Jodi," Stevie broke in.
"Yeah don't worry." Becky said.
"You don't spend enough time there for that to happen." Meg said with a smirk. They all laughed.
"Oh nice, thanks!." Jodi replied.
She looked at Heath, he flashed a grin and winked at her. Touching his boot heels to his horses flank. "Yah!" he yelled and they bolted.
"Jesus!" Claire said.
"Let's go!" Stevie said, followed by "yah!"
As they bought the cattle in, Claire rode ahead to open gates. She was greeted by Alex.
"Hery Claire."
"Hi Alex." Things were still a little stilted in the wake of Peter.
"Still on for tonight?"
"Sure are, Nick, Harry, Liz and Terry are coming also. So is Brick. Also Frank too."
"The cop? Why would you have the cop McLeod? "
"Because I am making an effort."
"Yeah right, I just came over to borrow your post hole digger."
"In the shed."
"Thanks, I'll see ya tonight."
"No worries."
They both turned as they heard a whip crack. Alex climbed up on the rails, "who uses a whip here?"
"Give you one guess." She smiled.
"Stevie? She can't crack one."
"Not Stevie, she said, her heart skipping a beat as Heath appeared over the rise, lazily swinging the whip and making it crack lightly. Alex caught her smile.
"Remember what happened with Peter, don't make the same mistake again." He warned.
"Not likely too Alex."
"He's a drifter Claire. All he will do is break your heart."
"I'm not interested in him Alex, he just reminds me of dad the way he rides, uses a whip." She mused.
"Sorry Claire."
"That's alright. I'll see you tonight."
"See ya then."
At the back of the mob Stevie and Jodi rode quietly as they watched Heath work the flanks and wheel them towards the yards.
"He's dreamy isn't he Stevie?"
"Yeah I guess, he won't be here long enough though Jodi."
"What do you mean?"
"He'll buy another mob and move em out. He's a drifter, most drovers are."
"He's a drifter, he's a drover, I want him to come over." Jodi sang laughing.
"What for?" Heath appeared between them suddenly.
"Nothing, I was just singing randomly." Jodi said, her face flushed.
"Yeah righto." Heath replied roughly as he rode away again.
"God! Could I have been any more stupid?" Jodi said.
"Nah, you did that spectacularly Jodes." Stevie said, her face crinkling into a smile as she watched him move in the saddle, one with his horse, like a well-oiled machine. After the cattle were yarded it was time for lunch, Stevie pulled Heath aside.
"Heath, can I ask a favour?"
"Sure."
"Well, it's actually two."
"Right."
"Can you teach me to crack a whip properly?"
"Sure, what's the second?"
"Be good to Jodi, she falls easily and hurts easily too."
"I have no interest in any of you," he replied quietly "I'm a drifter remember? I don t have a heart or feelings." He replied with a more guttural tone to his voice. "If ya want to learn, Ill meet ya on the driveway in 5, bring a whip." He said as he walked away.
Drovers Run, that evening.
The Ryan's arrived in convoy, Frank was already in the kitchen helping Meg prepare the food. Brick was walking around at the stables, arm in arm with Becky. Heath sat over in the shearers quarters, he was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. He had shaved, fortunately without many cuts. With a towel draped over his shoulders he looked in the mirror.
"What am I doing here?" He muttered to himself. A voice echoed through his mind, an angry voice from the past. "You're nothing! You are useless, you'll never be anything!" He shook his head, exhaling, trying to calm himself.
All the others had now gathered in the garden, beer and wine flowed and a good vibe emanated throughout. Conversation ceased when Heath appeared in the gateway. Clad in black jeans that were slightly worn, a repair had been done to the front of the left leg. A faded check shirt and a faded blue denim jacket, his black hat sat on his head.
"Don't all stop on my account." He said with a chuckle.
"G'day mate, names Brick." Brick said as he stepped forward his hand outstretched.
"Heath." He replied shaking hands.
"Beer?" Stevie offered
"Cheers. Oh hay Stevie, sorry about earlier today."
"No worries." Stevie flashed him a smile over her shoulder. Alex was watching her intently. He walked over to her.
"Getting a bit friendly aren't we Hall?" He asked grinning.
"Grow up Alex, it's called hospitality, blind bloody Freddy could see he's as nervous as hell." Stevie retorted.
"Steady on. I'm only having a laugh."
"Yeah well, I'm just being polite. I know what it's like to stand in his boots."
"Yeah, yeah. Fair call."
Stevie walked back over to where Heath was standing with Brick, "Have you got a guitar?" She asked.
"No, whys that?" Heath replied.
"Well you were going to sing a song about droving weren't you?"
"Yeah, find me an axe and get a few more beers into me and you might get lucky."
"Done. Ill hold you to that." She said, her eyes smouldering at him. After she walked away, Brick looked at him.
"Watch out mate, Stevie's gunning for you."
"Nah, I'm a drifter mate, all I do is break hearts apparently, although I can't recall any woman that's been heartbroken for me."
"Come on, you must've broken your fair share of hearts," Becky said, .Sliding her arm around Brick.
"You're kidding right Becky? With a face like this? I've always said, 'make space for the face that forces the abortion issue'." Heath said seriously as he upended the can. "Need anotherie, refill?" He asked looking at them.
"Nah we're good, thanks." Brick said.
Heath quietly burped, "no worries ay." And walked off to the fridge.
"He shouldn't talk about himself like that." Brick said.
"There's something big there, I guess he's been on his own so long he doesn't get close to anyone, or let anyone in." Becky said as they watched him walk away.
As he walked out of the kitchen, Heath came across Harry.
"G'day, Harry Ryan. Killarney."
"G'day Mr Ryan, Heath, Heath Beresford."
"You're Butchers boy aren't you?"
"Apparently."
"A good stockman your father, a thief, so crooked he couldn't lie straight in bed."
"Gee thanks Mr Ryan, I'll remember to tell him that when I visit the bastards grave next."
"He's dead?"
"Yup."
"Oh, well um, I'm sorry."
"No you're not, now who's the bloody liar?" Heath hissed angrily as he strode off, leaving the party hew walked to the quarters. Jodi went to follow, Meg grabbed her arm, "No, let him go Jodi."
"But I want to see if he's ok."
"I said no, now leave it."
Claire walked up, "Where's he gone?"
"Harry just gave him a bit of history about his father, less than polite." Meg said.
"That's Harry for you." Claire replied.
Heath sat on the veranda of the quarters, finishing his beer. He was thinking about heading out in the morning, he couldn't do this. Stevie appeared along with Becky and Brick.
"You ok?" Brick asked.
"Yeah I'll be fine, thanks Brick." He said accepting another beer, he rolled a smoke and lit it.
"They'll kill you, you know that?. Stevie said. With a smile.
"Yeah, no one will miss another drifter." Heath replied.
Stevie produced a guitar. "You promised."
"Yeah alright." Heath took the guitar and tuned it.
He began to play, "Now this one's by Martina McBride, I can't sing it as well as she did, but here goes anyway."
Well she seem alright by dawns early light, but she looked a little worried and weak.
She tried to pretend she wasn't drinking again, but Daddy left the proof on her cheek.
I was only 8 years old that summer, and I always seemed to be in the way.
So I took myself down, to the fair in town, on Independence Day.
Well, word gets around in a small=, small town they said he was a dangerous man.
But Mumma was proud and she stood her ground,. She knew she was on the loosin' end.
Some folks whispered, some folks talked, but everybody looked the other way.
And when time ran out, there was no one about. On Independence Day.
Let freedom ring! Let the white doves sing! Let the whole world know that today, is the day of reckoning!
Let the weak be strong! Let the right be wrong!
Roll the stone away! Let the guilty pay! It's Independence Day!
Well she lit up the sky that Fourth of July but the time that the fireman come.
They put out the flames, took down some names, they sent me to the county home.
Now I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong, but maybe there's another way.
Talk about a revolution, its Independence Day.
Let freedom ring! Let the white doves sing! Let the whole world know that today, is the day of reckoning!
Let the weak be strong! Let the right be wrong!
Roll the stone away! Let the guilty pay! It's Independence Day!
Roll the stone away! It's Independence Day!
By the time the last notes faded away, there was quite a crowd. He looked up at them all.
"Wow!" Claire said
"So is any of that true?" Alex asked.
"Not all of it, I didn't write it. But a fair bit of that applies on some way or another." Heath replied. Harry frowned and walked back towards the house. Clearly there was more to this and he had to know. Pulling Frank aside, he looked at him,
"I want to know all there is to know about him. Understand?" He then walked on.
Stevie looked at Heaths eyes, they were shiny, and tears weren't far away at all.
"Ok, who's up for another drink?" She asked.
"Yes, yep! Too right." Came the replies. And they all started to drift back to the garden.
"I'll be along in a sec." Heath said. Stevie was the last to leave, Heath watched them all go into the darkness. When he was alone a quiet sob escaped, Stevie heard it and turned around standing there in the shadows she saw him stand up and walk inside. She crept back, peeking through the window, she saw him sitting at the table, tears running down his face and dripping onto the table surface. She was about to walk in when she heard a noise behind her. It was Claire.
"Is he ok?" Claire asked quietly, Stevie crept over to her.
"I think we'd better leave him be." Stevie whispered.
"Why?"
"The poor guys sitting in there crying his eyes out. There must be more to it." Stevie murmured.
"Not for us to get involved in."
"True."
They moved back to garden and carried on, when Stevie walked Alex out to his Ute his light was off.
"So Hall? Here we are." Alex slurred with a grin.
"Yup, we sure are Ryan, drive safe." She said tapping him on the chest as she turned to walk away, Alex pulled her back to him and kissed her. Stevie melted for a second before pushing him away.
"Just go Alex!" She snapped.
"Hang on Stevie."
"I don't want to hear it, just go." She said as she turned away, tears welling in her eyes.
"I think you'd better do as the lady asks mate." A voice came from the darkness.
"Stay out of this drover boy, nothing to do with you." Alex sneered.
"I'll make it my business if you are making a lady uncomfortable."
"Just go Alex!" Stevie yelled, Bringing Claire and Tess running from the garden.
"What the hell's going on here?" Claire snapped.
"Nothing!" Alex huffed getting into his Ute, he span the wheels and drove away in a cloud of dust. They all shielded their eyes from the dust, when it settled, Stevie called out.
"Heath?" There was nothing but silence.
"What?" Tess asked.
"Heath was here, Alex was trying to kiss me and I told him to go, but he wouldn't, Heaths voice came out of the darkness."
"Well he's obviously gone now." Claire said. "Night."
"Night" Tess and Stevie echoed before going their own ways to bed.