Barmah Brumbies

by Soraya Nicholas

  Her teacher was letting her do her speech first, since she was leaving early, and her stomach danced with nerves.

  ‘Brumbies are not . . .’

  She stumbled to a halt as Lukas mumbled something to Ryder, raising his eyebrows and laughing. She cleared her throat, fixing her gaze on her best friend, Sarah. Sarah smiled and she smiled back, wishing she were better at talking in front of her class.

  ‘Brumbies are not native to Australia,’ she said, starting again in a louder, more confident voice. ‘They are heritage horses that descended from the first horses that came to Australia on ships from England and either escaped or were released. Over the years they have adjusted genetically to thrive in the wild. It is believed they share Thoroughbred, Arabian, Draft and Clydesdale bloodlines.’ Poppy cleared her throat. ‘Our largest brumby populations live in the Northern Territory, Queensland and northern Western Australia, but we also have brumbies in Victoria and New South Wales, and the Australian wild horse population is now over one million.’

  The boys nudged each other again, but Poppy stayed focused on Sarah, pretending she was only talking to her. ‘Water is the biggest threat to the brumby, because even in areas where feed is plentiful, many of them die during periods of drought. Different states in Australia have different views on how to manage brumbies, and although many people love our heritage horse, the brumby is considered a feral pest by the government and environmental groups. But anyone who has worked with a brumby knows what amazing animals they are to train and work with, as well as being perfectly suited to the Australian climate and conditions.’

  She finished and the class clapped. Many of them began studying the images she’d passed around and talking eagerly about them.

  ‘That was a wonderful, informative speech, Poppy. Thank you for sharing with us something you’re obviously so passionate about,’ said Ms Vincent. ‘On the topic of sharing, is there something you’d like to share back there, Ryder?’

  Ryder shook his head.

  ‘Perhaps a question for Poppy?’

  ‘I don’t get why she cares so much. Why not let them all get killed?’ Ryder asked.

  ‘Yeah, it seems like everyone else on the planet thinks they’re pests anyway,’ said Lukas.

  Poppy’s cheeks burned and she plopped down in her chair beside Sarah.

  ‘Poppy has a beautiful brumby of her own. I bet you wouldn’t say that if you’d seen him,’ Sarah snapped back.

  ‘Doubt it.’

  ‘Enough! Stay behind to talk to me after class,’ the teacher said, pointing to the boys. ‘And Poppy, have a wonderful week riding. The rest of us can’t wait to hear about your brumby adventures at Barmah.’

  Poppy looked at the clock, her face so hot and flushed she thought she might be sick. Why were boys so stupid? Well, not all boys. Her little brother was fun – most of the time.

  ‘They’re so dumb,’ Kim said, rolling her eyes. ‘Don’t listen to them. Brumbies sound amazing.’ The other girls nodded.

  Poppy smiled. They were right. And if the boys had been mean to her about anything else, she wouldn’t have even cared, but brumbies meant a lot to her and she hated anyone saying they should be killed.

  ‘Go and have fun,’ Sarah whispered, pointing at the clock, and Poppy bent to give her a quick hug. She grabbed her bag, waved to her other friends and darted out of the classroom. She ran through the school, skidding to a stop outside the office and ducking in to sign herself out. She smiled at the office lady as she tapped in her details, then bolted out the door and ran down to her mum’s car. She was breathless when she yanked open the door and dropped into the passenger seat.

  ‘Thanks, Mum,’ Poppy panted, knowing how difficult it was for her to leave work and drive over to get her.

  ‘All day I’ve been looking forward to spending some time, just the two of us,’ her mum said, smiling over at her.

  Poppy’s stomach growled. Loudly. She reached for her schoolbag and pulled out her lunch box to see what she still had left.

  ‘You hungry?’

  ‘Yes,’ Poppy moaned.

  ‘That’s lucky. I thought we’d stop at a café on the way, have a juice and something to eat. What do you say?’

  Poppy dropped her lunch box and grinned. ‘Sounds great.’

  It wasn’t until they were both sitting by the window in the sun, drinking juices and eating cupcakes, that Poppy realised something was up. Her mum had a strange look on her face – the kind of look that reminded Poppy of when her mum had tried to break the news to her that her dad had died.

  Poppy fiddled with the sugar packets on the table. ‘What is it?’ she asked.

  Her mum sighed and took a sip of her juice. ‘Poppy, I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to tell you this,’ she said, ‘but . . .’

  Poppy gulped and waited. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Well . . .’ She paused again. She looked nervous. ‘Poppy I’ve met someone. A lovely man through work. We’ve been out a few times when you’ve been at Starlight and your brother’s been at a sleepover. And for lunch here and there. He’s really nice. I think when you get back you should meet him.’

  Poppy’s lips were frozen around her straw. She could barely breathe.

  ‘He’s just love– ’

  ‘Lovely,’ Poppy finished for her, finally finding her voice again. ‘Yup, I caught that the first time.’

  Her mother’s face flushed. Poppy forced down some juice, then she reached for her fork and started stabbing at her cupcake and eating chunks of it. How could her mum have a boyfriend? Her dad had only been gone a year!

  ‘I didn’t mean to meet anyone so soon, Pops,’ her mum said, as if she could suddenly read Poppy’s mind. ‘But he’s a great guy and he makes me laugh. I really hoped you’d be grown up enough to understand that.’

  Poppy stared down at her cupcake, at the pink frosting that had looked so pretty, but tasted like cardboard. She took a deep breath and finally brought her eyes up to meet her mum’s. Poppy could see how hopeful she looked, how happy.

  ‘Do you still love Dad?’ Poppy asked, her voice all croaky.

  ‘Yes! Of course I love your dad still,’ her mum said, tears welling in her eyes. ‘I will never love anyone like I love your dad and you and your brother. But I’d really like to think that your father would want me to be happy. All of us.’

  ‘It’s just … I don’t know. It’s weird,’ Poppy whispered. ‘And yeah, of course Dad would want you to be happy. I just don’t think I want to meet him.’ What would her brother think? Surely Tom wouldn’t want to meet the guy either?

  Her mum took her hand. ‘That’s fine, Poppy. Whenever you’re ready, you just tell me.’

  ‘Does Tom know?’ she asked.

  Her mum shook her head. ‘No, sweetheart. I wanted to talk to you about it first.’

  ‘Don’t tell him,’ she blurted, suddenly worried about Tom finding out without her being there. ‘Can you wait until I’m back? I think it’d be weird for him and I just . . .’ She blinked away tears. Since their dad had died, she’d always looked out for Tom and made sure he was okay. She wanted to be with him now. ‘Just please wait.’

  ‘Of course,’ her mum said, and Poppy saw there were tears in her eyes too. ‘I’ll wait until you’re home and we can all talk about it together.’

  They ate their cupcakes in silence then, until her mum started asking her about the big ride and Poppy started telling her about the stupid boys in her class, and how much she was looking forward to brumby spotting. The idea of her mum hanging out with another man who wasn’t her dad felt like there was a fly in her brain that she was constantly swatting away. She was going to try not to think about it. Not just yet, anyway.

  ‘Girls, have you packed all your stuff in the truck?’ Aunt Sophie’s voice echoed through the stables.

  ‘We’re all packed!’ Poppy called back. ‘Everything’s in except our packs. They’re up at the house still.’

  She mentally went through every
thing – saddle, bridle, cover, grooming and first-aid kits, buckets, haybales, tents, sleeping-bags. She was sure that was all they needed. She’d put fresh straw in the stables after Milly and Katie had mucked them out, and before that they’d taken all the horses out to the paddocks so they could graze while they were away. The only horses housed inside tonight were the ones going on the big ride tomorrow.

  ‘Hey,’ Poppy said, hearing a kicking noise and turning to look at Storm. He was fretting in his stable, kicking at the timber sidewall, and when he poked his head over the half-door, she could see his eyes were wide.

  ‘You’re okay,’ she told him, going down to get him some more hay and then letting herself into his stall. ‘It’s just a bit of rain on the roof – nothing to be frightened of.’ It was funny how much he loved a storm if he was outside in it, but acted like a scared child when he was locked in. The rain was loud on the tin above, and because he hadn’t yet spent a lot of time indoors, Poppy wondered if that was why it was extra spooky. ‘Have something to eat and you’ll feel better.’

  Her own stomach was growling; she hadn’t eaten anything since the cupcake with her mum.

  ‘Let’s head up for dinner, then early to bed,’ Aunt Sophie said as she walked through the stable block.

  Poppy gave Storm a lingering pat and let herself out, careful to lock his door.

  ‘Everyone who’s in for the night has fresh water?’ asked Aunt Sophie.

  Poppy nodded. ‘Yes. I’ve double-checked them.’

  Milly and Katie appeared and they all walked to the door. The rain was starting to fall heavily, and Poppy hoped it wouldn’t ruin their trail ride.

  ‘I’m making a run for it!’ Katie squealed.

  Poppy sprinted off with her, the cool lash of rain against her bare arms sending chills through her body. She laughed when Milly hoofed it past them – no matter how hard she tried, Poppy could never catch her.

  Finally they reached the house and Poppy kicked off her boots and leapt inside, skidding on the timber floor in her socks and following her nose into the kitchen. Aunt Sophie must have had something in the slow cooker, because the whole place smelt amazing.

  An hour later they’d eaten dinner, done the dishes and were upstairs getting ready for bed. Poppy flopped back and buried herself under the covers, squeezing her eyes shut tight. She listened to Milly and Katie chatting and then she felt the indent of weight on her bed.

  ‘Poppy, is something wrong? You’ve been really quiet,’ Katie said.

  Poppy bit down hard on her lip as a hot burst of tears filled her eyes. She hadn’t expected them to notice.

  ‘Poppy?’ Milly asked.

  Poppy took a deep breath. She’d been trying not to think about it since she’d gotten on the train, and then she’d distracted herself all evening with the horses, but it came back like a flood now.

  ‘My mum has a boyfriend,’ she whispered.

  There was silence, and then she felt a hand on her arm. She looked up and into Milly’s eyes.

  ‘That sucks,’ Milly said, frowning. ‘I mean, that really sucks.’

  ‘What’s he like?’ Katie asked. ‘Did your mum tell you or did you find out?’

  Poppy pushed herself up and sat up against the wall. She brushed her tears away with the back of her hand. ‘She told me before she dropped me at the train station today,’ she said. ‘I just . . .’ Poppy struggled to find the right words.

  ‘You still wish your dad would come home,’ Katie said in a low voice. ‘I can’t imagine my mum or dad being with anyone else.’

  ‘Have you met him?’ Milly asked.

  Poppy shook her head. ‘Nope. I told her I don’t want to. And yeah, it’s so weird. I just don’t want to see mum with anyone else. I can still imagine Dad being there, coming home and us going back to how it used to be. I miss him so bad sometimes.’

  ‘You know . . .’ Katie hesitated. ‘Maybe it’s hard for your mum. I mean, she has you guys, but you spend heaps of time here and it sounds like Tom has lots of friends. It’s probably kind of lonely for her. Does she seem happy?’

  Poppy wrapped her arms tightly around herself. She had never thought about her mum feeling lonely, even when she was depressed, but she did seem so much happier now she’d found someone. Maybe Katie was right: Poppy had Starlight Stables, Crystal and Storm, plus she was always hanging out with Milly and Katie on the weekends and Sarah when she was at home.

  ‘She does kind of have a point,’ Milly said. ‘But it still sucks.’

  Poppy glanced at Katie and smiled. ‘I guess I hadn’t thought about how she feels. Thanks.’

  They all sat in silence for a while. Poppy didn’t want to talk about it any more – her eyes were burning – and they probably didn’t know what else to say anyway.

  ‘Want us never to talk about it again?’ Milly asked.

  Poppy laughed through her tears at Milly’s overly arched eyebrows and overly serious face. ‘Yeah, actually that’d be kind of great if you could do that.’

  Milly gave her a little salute and Katie smiled, and Poppy realised she was happy she’d told them. It made the whole thing less scary somehow.

  ‘Lights out?’ Aunt Sophie’s soft voice made Poppy turn. She was standing in the doorway.

  ‘Night, Aunt Sophie,’ Poppy said, hoping she hadn’t heard what they’d been talking about.

  ‘Goodnight,’ Milly and Katie said at the same time.

  Poppy breathed deep in the sudden darkness. They were leaving early in the morning, and she was so tired she couldn’t keep her eyes open for a second longer.

  Poppy loaded Crystal into the trailer, and once she’d secured the gate behind the pony’s bottom and tied her up, she took Storm from her aunt so she could lead him on. He snorted at the ramp and stamped his hoof once, and Poppy was sure he was going to baulk and pull away. She held the lead rope firmly.

  ‘Walk on,’ she instructed sternly.

  He stood for a moment, then placidly walked on, his head dipped down like it was the most normal thing in the world to be doing on a Saturday morning. She couldn’t believe it!

  ‘Good boy,’ she praised, ducking under the breast bar at the front and tying him up beside Crystal. It was amazing how different he was now, almost like he’d never been a wild horse. Aunt Sophie had done such an amazing job of training him.

  Poppy waited until Sophie had put the tailgate up and then ducked out the side door. ‘See you guys soon!’ she said, closing the door and double-checking it had locked. She clapped her hands together to get rid of the dust and then surveyed the scene in front of her.

  Aunt Sophie had decided to let Crystal and Storm travel together since they were friends, and Crystal would hopefully keep him nice and calm. Cody, Joe and Uncle Mark’s horse, Shadow, were loaded on the truck, which could barely fit them all along with the camping gear.

  ‘Let’s go, girls!’ Uncle Mark ordered, pointing to the vehicle. ‘Who’s in here with me, and who’s in the truck with Sophie?’

  Poppy glanced at her friends. Were they thinking the same as her? That they should all travel up together?

  ‘Ah, take them all,’ Aunt Sophie said with a laugh. ‘I’m fine on my own and it’ll be more fun for them that way.’

  Poppy threw her aunt a grin and ran to Mark’s vehicle. ‘Shot gun!’ she called out, diving in and buckling up before anyone could challenge her.

  ‘So not fair!’ Milly moaned, climbing in the back with Katie.

  Poppy looked out at Casper, behind the fence in his run. He didn’t get left out of the fun very often – he was usually in the house with everyone else and sneaking onto beds to sleep, and he looked sad. But it was only for a few days, and he wasn’t allowed in the National Park. Her aunt and uncle had someone coming in twice a day to check the other horses and take Casper out for a run.

  Sophie rumbled on ahead of them, and Uncle Mark slowly pulled out and followed her across the field and down onto their driveway. They bumped across the gravel, and Poppy twi
sted in her seat to look back, just able to make out her horses’ faces through the window in the trailer.

  ‘Settle in for a long drive, girls,’ Uncle Mark said. ‘We should be there in about two and a half hours, depending on the traffic.’

  Poppy wriggled back in her seat and stared out the window at gum trees and fences, fields full of cattle and then horses. A sign whizzed past.

  She sat on her hands and tried not to jiggle in her seat, a big grin spreading across her face that she couldn’t stop.

  No more sleeps, she whispered to herself. Barmah National Park, here we come!

  ‘Getting excited yet?’ Uncle Mark asked.

  Poppy looked out the window as the vehicle slowed and her uncle turned into the entrance of Barmah National Park. The sign to their left was weathered, but Poppy scanned it as they passed.

  ‘More like dying of excitement,’ Milly said from behind her.

  ‘I just can’t believe we’re here,’ Poppy said, putting her window down and leaning out a little. The wind brushed her cheeks and she stared at the towering trees.

  ‘Those trees are huge,’ Katie said as they drove deeper into the forest, following Sophie’s truck.

  Poppy put her window up as they made their way up the dusty drive. ‘I can’t remember what they’re called.’

  ‘River red gums,’ Uncle Mark clarified. ‘And we have to be careful of them because they shed branches without warning.’

  ‘Thanks for the FYI,’ Milly muttered. ‘I’ll make sure not to put my tent under one!’

  Poppy laughed. ‘I think we’re camping in the old muster yards, aren’t we?’

  ‘We sure are,’ Uncle Mark replied.

  Poppy had read all about it. If they were here without their horses and just camping, they’d be camping somewhere along the Murray River. They’d definitely have to be careful of the trees if they ever did that. But as part of the organised heritage ride they got to stay in the historic muster yards.

  They eventually came to a stop and Poppy couldn’t believe how many people were already there.