Brumbies in the Mountains

by Paula Boer

  Magpies chortled overhead as if they were singing to Harry’s memory. Julian looked up and pointed to where they perched. “Can you imagine him living without his precious animals all around him? No. His was a self-imposed exile. He didn’t have to live the way he did. He chose it many years ago.”

  Her curiosity aroused, Louise couldn’t help asking more about the old hermit’s decision, despite not wanting to appear rude. “Why here if you live down south?”

  Looking at his watch Julian seemed to consider how much to tell them. “In a nutshell, my brother was a wild young man and loved the high life. He was a maniac behind the wheel of his sports cars. One day he had a major accident that cost the life of his fiancée and crippled him. After he recovered he disappeared. It was months before we knew where he was.”

  Ben’s mouth hung open. “He was engaged? That must have been awful. No wonder he wanted to hide.”

  “How old was he? How long has he been living in the park?” Louise felt as dumbfounded as Ben looked.

  Julian shifted his position on the bench, straightening the creases in his trousers. “The accident happened when he was twenty-eight. He’d be seventy-four now. He’s been up here all that time.”

  Louise did the maths. “Forty-six years! That explains why he knew the park so well.”

  Ben joined in. “No wonder he didn’t want the ranger to know where he was. This was his home before it was even a park. What did he do before the accident? I mean, were you farmers or something? He knew a lot about animals.”

  Julian’s laugh seemed out of place for the occasion. “Me? Farm? That would be a joke. No, I’m an accountant by trade, though these days I spend all my time running the family firm. We manufacture hardware. Nuts and bolts, hinges, that sort of thing. Harold always loved horses and used to play polo, but we never had land. He was an engineer. Very talented too. We missed his skills when he left, not to mention worrying about him.”

  The thought of Harry driving fast cars and playing polo fought with Louise’s image of the old hermit tending wildlife in his bush hut. “It doesn’t sound like the same Harry.”

  “No, I admit it took me a long time to accept he wasn’t coming back. I thought after a period of grieving and recovery he would come home. Obviously it was tragic about Alexandra, but life goes on.”

  Ben shook his head. “Not for Harry. He invented a new life for himself.”

  “We’d better go in. The church is filling up. There are places reserved for you in the front pew. You were more family to Harold than anyone else here.” Julian led the way along the gravel path, past the other mourners. Strangers nodded to them or patted their shoulders as they went by.

  Louise sat through the service in a daze. Her mind roamed in all directions at the thought of Harry’s earlier life that they’d known nothing about. Although she stood with everyone else as hymns were sung and knelt for the prayers, she barely heard a word that was said. The eulogy, given by Julian, seemed to be for someone she didn’t know.

  Leaving the dim interior of the stone church Louise couldn’t even shed tears for her friend. It all seemed so unreal. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she and Ben would see Harry the next time they rode out, or find a note from him under the message tree.

  Maggie and a few other ladies of the Country Women’s Association had arranged a sumptuous lunch in the Goldriver hall next to the church. Voices rose as people greeted old friends, sandwiches in one hand and a beer or wine in the other. Louise poured herself and Ben an orange juice. “Did your mum expect there to be so many people here? I can’t believe it.”

  “No. I think she came to add her support, otherwise Patti would have brought us. Did you see her talking to Graeme this morning? They really seem to have hit it off. I guess they have a lot in common with them both training horses. Graeme’s coming over to Gold River Run tomorrow.” Ben looked around the room as if searching for his uncle.

  Surprised by the news Louise felt as if her head would burst. “I can’t believe all the changes that have happened. At least I can stay here rather than go to Africa. I’m actually looking forward to spending the holidays out there now that I can live with Patti during term time.”

  “Lucky your future is sorted out. I still don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  Before Louise could respond Adam Cartwright joined them. “Big turnout. I didn’t expect to see so many city folk here. Half of Crowhurst too from the looks of it. He was quite a legend. I’m sorry about what happened.”

  Ben shrugged. “I hope it was quick. From what we hear, better that he died out in the bush doing what he loved than getting so old and frail he had to move in to town.”

  “I suppose you’re right. It comes to us all in the end.” Adam lifted his hat and scratched his head. “On another matter, you might be interested to know that cattle are going to be allowed back in the park.”

  Louise held her breath. She didn’t want Ben making a fuss at Harry’s funeral, though she knew that anything to do with Robert Smythe-Waters made him flair up. The landholder was noticeably absent from the funeral, though Marion, his wife, was there. “Will anyone be allowed to graze cattle?”

  The background noise dimmed as people started to disperse. “Only adjacent landholders. They’ll need to apply for a permit every five years.”

  Ben shook his head. “What about the brumbies? There’ll be no feed left for them. Are you intending to shoot them all?”

  The thought of the wild horses being wiped out shook Louise into a fury. “No! You can’t kill them! They’ve more right to be there than cattle. They’re wild now, regardless of how they came to be there.”

  The ranger held up his hands. “Steady on, no-one’s going to kill all the brumbies. When you told me about the grey stallion being shot I stopped the aerial cull. Herd leaders are supposed to be exempt. I explored a bit myself and didn’t like what I saw.”

  “We’re raising an orphan foal because of the shooting. She was going to be Harry’s.” At this reminder of her friend’s demise Louise fell silent.

  Ben and Adam carried on talking while she sorted her emotions out. She only caught the last of what the ranger was saying. “Sorry, did you say the brumbies will be fed?”

  “Not all the time. We still don’t want to interfere with their way of life, but that’s part of the obligations under the cattle lease. The money will go towards feeding the brumbies in severe winters. Cattle will be permitted to roam for four months of the year.”

  A calm settled over the three of them. It seemed as if a solution for everyone was being worked out. Louise thought of another issue. “If you stop the culling will you muster the brumbies again?”

  Cramming his hat down in readiness to leave Adam held up one hand. “I’m working on it. Hopefully you’ll hear more about that soon.”

  Before she could quiz the ranger more, Harry’s brother came over and interrupted. “I want to make sure you know about this afternoon. Harold’s will is being read at Hackett and Moore’s in Crowhurst at three o’clock. I hope you can all be there because there are matters than concern you.”

  Unlike the funeral, only a few people attended in the afternoon. Louise felt self-conscious as she propped on the edge of a leather chair at the back of the lawyer’s office. Mrs Naylor had dropped her and Ben off before going shopping, having called in at Louise’s house for her to change into jeans. Now she wished she had stayed in her dress.

  Ben lounged in the chair next to her, seemingly unaffected by the official nature of the proceedings. “I wonder what Harry will have left us? Maybe you’ll get your little wombat back that you gave him.”

  Before Louise could reply the lawyer cleared his throat. “I think we’re all here. Has everyone got a cup of something?”

  Looking around the room Louise recognised Harry’s brother, Julian. A woman, presumably his wife, sat next to him in front of the law
yer’s desk. Two men sat behind them plus Maggie from the Goldriver store and Marion Smythe-Waters. Adam Cartwright leant against the doorframe, twirling his hat in his hands.

  The lawyer drew out a sheaf of papers from a buff envelope and read through the preliminaries. As he reached the list of beneficiaries he held out his hand to Julian. “Do you have the final figures of Mr McDonald’s estate?”

  Harry’s brother handed over a single sheet of paper. Louise wondered if it was a list of the books and other treasures in Harry’s hut, although she wasn’t aware that anyone had visited since his body had been removed.

  The lawyer straightened in his chair and blinked. “I see. This is a considerable sum. I hadn’t realised the bequeaths would be so well endowed.” He cleared his throat again. “I’ll read out Mr McDonald’s own words. He only wrote this a few weeks ago. He came in after discovering the park was being logged.”

  Keen to not miss a word, Louise leant forward. Ben sat up straighter.

  The lawyer intoned Harry’s will in a formal voice. “I gift to the village of Goldriver, to be managed by the store owner Margaret Nuffield, sufficient funds to erect a bronze statue of a life size brumby along with six picnic tables, benches and barbeque facilities on the village green opposite the Goldriver store.”

  “I gift to Marion Smythe-Waters all my herbs, remedies, and books on the same.”

  “I gift to the Crowhurst library the copyright and royalties from my poetry with all my remaining books, the monies from royalties to be used for an annual bush poetry prize.”

  “I gift to Benjamin Naylor all my furniture and tools.”

  “I gift to Louise Hardy my hut and remaining chattels, including Jenny, my mule.”

  The thought of Jenny being in Harry’s will clutched at Louise’s throat. She choked back emotion as she realised that instead of the mule, Eve would be hers. Although elated at the thought of the owning another brumby, she worried what her parents would say. How could she afford another horse, especially with Honey in foal?

  The two men behind Julian and his wife started to fidget. Louise guessed they were waiting for something more. Julian sat relaxed.

  The lawyer continued reading. “I leave all my financial assets, after tax, duties and costs, to be used to establish a wildlife refuge for the benefit of native and non-native animals. This refuge, if at all possible, is to be based at or near the park information centre and old homestead. If possible, the old homestead is to be restored and used as part of the refuge facility or support services for the general public. Primary attention is to be given to protecting and healing any wildlife in need of support, especially endangered and threatened species. Secondary consideration is to be given to educating the general public on wildlife management.”

  Adam Cartwright walked forwards. “That’s all very well him saying that, but that will take an enormous amount of money. Where’s that going to come from?”

  Julian swivelled in his seat. “Don’t worry, Harold’s estate is very extensive, more than enough to provide for his wishes. He’s spent virtually nothing in his life. I’ve invested his income every year. Here. Have a look.”

  Taking another sheet of paper from Julian, Adam drew up a chair. “Is this true? Why did he hide up in the mountains? He could have lived like a king around here. We all thought he was a pauper.”

  A deep guffaw erupted from Julian, which sounded incongruous to the solemnity of the occasion. “Harold always was a great actor. He liked to play the illiterate idiot to strangers. He’d take his time opening up to people, but once he accepted someone, he’d do anything for them.”

  Excited by the news of a refuge, Louise wondered why Harry hadn’t set up a refuge years ago. Then she thought of the Harry she and Ben knew. He wouldn’t have wanted to deal with all the bureaucracy that would go with establishing a facility in the park. “Who will be responsible for setting the refuge up?”

  Calling the room back to attention, the lawyer waved another envelope in the air. “There are plans here. Mr Julian McDonald is the executor and will be responsible for establishing a trust and board to oversee Harold McDonald’s legacy. Please let me finish the official reading.”

  Louise didn’t pay much attention to the legal mumbo-jumbo that followed, her head spinning with the news of a refuge. She whispered to Ben. “With Dad’s new job I’ll be able to go to university. Maybe I can be the vet at the refuge in a few years’ time? That way I can stay here for ever.”

  Ben nudged her to be quiet and muttered under his breath. “Maybe you could buy Tumbleford Farm too and give me a job.”

  Sensing she had been selfish, Louise clammed up. She knew Ben was still very worried about his future.

  Chapter 16

  Peach, Shadow’s palomino filly, lifted her head as Ben and Louise approached the gate. Her mane rippled as she sprang into a trot and came to investigate. Proud of Brandy’s offspring, Ben was torn between delight in watching the newest addition to his herd and the thought of them being sold. “Graeme’s called a family meeting today. John arrived last night. It’s all a bit odd. I think he’s unhappy with Dad’s decision to sell up, but what can we do?”

  Leaning over the fence Louise held out her hand to the filly. “Will we have time to ride beforehand? I’d hoped we’d go out to Harry’s place today. Mum leaves tomorrow so I won’t be able to come out.”

  The friends hadn’t had an opportunity to talk much after the reading of the will the day before. News of Harry’s wealth and the development of a wildlife refuge for the park had the town abuzz. The two unknown men at the lawyer’s office turned out to be directors from the family business. They had been surprised, but not unhappy, at the bequest.

  Ben was thrilled for the animals that would be helped, though it didn’t help him with his own future. Pleased that Louise dreamt of being involved as a vet, he couldn’t see a role for himself. He knew she expected him to remain in the area. He thought it more likely that he’d have to move away for work. Maybe that’s what Graeme wanted to talk about.

  He could see Louise waited for an answer. “You’re welcome to stay. We can ride out afterwards. I need a good gallop after all that’s been going on.”

  Eve had joined them while they spoke. The orphan foal had improved in condition since being turned out with other horses. Despite being bullied by Shadow she had started to play with Peach, galloping around the perimeter of the paddock and kicking up her heels. Ned watched from where he grazed, one ear always cocked towards his charge.

  Ben watched the old gelding change his position to face them. “Ned’s been a great uncle. Harry certainly knew what he was talking about with horses. I’m going to miss him.”

  Realising that the humans had no titbits the foals wandered off, sniffing at flowers and nipping each other. Shadow whinnied as they drifted too far from her domain. Louise stepped back from the fence. “Me too. I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

  A whistle from the house attracted Ben’s attention. “Sounds like they’re ready. Let’s go find out what this is all about.”

  As usual Mrs Naylor had a large spread on the scrubbed kitchen table. Cakes, sandwiches, fruit and biscuits piled on plates. A steaming teapot and a large jug of coffee sat in the middle surrounded by a mishmash of mugs. Ben selected one with a comical spotted cow and poured himself a drink. Louise filled a glass with water and sat next to him.

  After sipping on his coffee Graeme pulled up a chair next to his brother. Ben’s father signalled for him to talk with a wave of his hand. “You tell them. You can explain better than me.”

  An air of expectancy hung in the room. Ben had no idea what the discussion might be about. From his smug expression it seemed that John knew what was coming.

  Graeme started by thanking them all for their patience. “We all know that times have been tough here since Alan had his accident. I’ve been struggling out west too,
what with the drought and everyone destocking. There’s not been the same demand for horse breakers. But Tumbleford Farm has good feed and between us we own a lot of excellent stock. I can’t let the Naylor family farm be sold. We’ve been here for five generations, so we’ve worked out a solution.”

  Ben hadn’t seen his father look so cheerful in a long time. Despite the pain evident in his posture in the chair Ben could tell that the news was good. He perked up and listened as Graeme started talking again.

  “The solution we’ve come up with is to establish Naylor Holdings, a family owned trust. Alan and Sally, me, John, Ben and Jacinta will all be shareholders. Alan and I will run the business.”

  So far this news didn’t sound that spectacular to Ben. “How does that help?”

  Graeme went on to explain the arrangement. “I’ll build a new house here to live in most of the year and bring any horses I’m working. The cattle will stay out at Warringul. John is moving there to be overseer in charge of infrastructure such as the bores, fences and machinery. My current head stockman will become stock manager.”

  Mr Naylor must have seen the confusion on Ben’s face. “That means, son, we can stay living here. I’ll get an income from the lease that Graeme pays the trust for use of the land.”

  Understanding the implications, Ben was thrilled for his parents. “That’s great. Will there be work for me too?”

  Graeme nodded. “If you want it, but you don’t have to stay. It’ll do you good to get experience somewhere else, at least in the next few years.”

  Mrs Naylor handed around large slices of her trademark chocolate cake. “There’s more good news. Oliver has agreed to take responsibility for Harry’s refuge providing I take on the administration role. That’ll give me an income too. Marion is going to run the café at the old homestead all year round, so I can help there in peak times as well.”