Return to the High Country

by Tony Parsons

  Kate understood perfectly why David wanted the New England property, just as she had understood why he had wanted Molonga and Wirrewarra, but Kate had worked very closely with David for years and thought differently to Anne. Although now frail, frailer than Anne who was older than her, Kate’s brain was still working well. Everything David did had a certain logic. One operation dovetailed into another and the New England concept was no different.

  David’s prognosis of the two properties they were to inspect turned out to be correct. The first property they looked at was what David called a ‘big, rough place’. It had a lot of acres, about half of which were fairly unproductive. The second place, known as Glenview, was at Walcha, and although it didn’t match the acreage of the first place, virtually every part of the land was good grazing land. Most of the property had been supered in the past although, since her husband’s death and lower wool prices, Mrs Baldwin had let a lot of the supering slip. The stock looked to be in fine condition and the improvements were in good order. The property was set in a pretty valley with a creek and there were some paddocks that had grown crop. The old homestead was solid and comfortable and there was a picturesque rose garden down one side.

  ‘What a lovely place,’ Moira said, casting her eyes over the country before her.

  ‘It would be mighty cold in winter,’ David said. ‘You have to understand this country, Moy. It snows here at times. You can get caught with shorn sheep and lose them.’

  From what David could see of the property, the land was a mix of basalt and granite. Granite grew wool with a fine tip, but basalt was more productive country. The sheep seemed to be in good condition – the wool was bright and fine and, according to Mrs Baldwin, it usually sold well. She told them of some of the prices they had received when her husband was alive. Obviously the property was capable of producing high-quality wool.

  David sat on the fence of the sheep yards and looked up and down the valley, and to where the hills met the sky. He reckoned that if he bought this property it would be the last one for him. He owned much more than he had ever dreamed of owning, and this place would clinch it. But was it the right place? David understood that you had to look after stock a lot more carefully in this country than in other places. Sheep worms had become resistant to some of the commonly used drenches and barber’s pole worm was a real problem. However, there were new drenches and new strategies that were making a real difference to sheep production. He thought that if he bought the property he would like to give it a good spell. Super it all and give it a spell.

  ‘You seen enough, David?’ Joe Morton asked at his side.

  ‘I’ve seen enough,’ David answered.

  ‘What do you reckon?’

  ‘I’ll take it,’ David said.

  Joe nodded. ‘I reckon it’s a good buy, David. If wool prices come good, this will be a cheap place. Well, if you’ve made up your mind, we’ll go and tell Mrs Baldwin. She doesn’t want to sell, but relying on other people to run the place isn’t much chop.’

  ‘Push it through, Joe. I mean that. I want delivery as soon as possible. Cut it back as much as you can.’

  ‘I’ll see what I can do, David. Do you know something I don’t know?’ Joe asked.

  ‘Only a feeling, Joe,’ David answered cautiously. ‘I don’t want this sale to fall through.’ He hadn’t quibbled at the price which, as Joe said, was very reasonable for the quality of the property. Quibbling would hold up the sale and he wanted the sale through before wool prices lifted.

  David hadn’t asked Catriona and Moira what they thought of the property, nor had they expected him to. They had absolute faith in his judgement. If David had not liked the place he would have rejected it just as quickly as he had made up his mind to purchase it. They realised he would have weighed up all the pros and cons before coming to a decision.

  ‘Glenview would be a very nice property for a young married couple to begin on,’ Moira said, when they were back in the car and on their way to Tamworth.

  ‘Wouldn’t it?’ Catriona agreed.

  ‘Yes, they could spend a lot of time keeping warm in bed over the winter,’ David said.

  ‘Dad!!!’ Moira scolded.

  Joe laughed. ‘It’s a mite cool up here in winter, no doubt about that,’ he agreed.

  So David acquired his New England property. He purchased it for a significantly lower price than it would have made twelve months down the track. He made what locals described as a radical decision when he de-stocked the property. Well, he didn’t actually have to de-stock it – Mrs Baldwin sold all her stock and David didn’t replace them with his own for some months.

  It was a fairly satisfied David MacLeod who sat with his wife and daughter on their front verandah at High Peaks on a Sunday afternoon in early December. And it was from here that he saw a white utility cross the ramp and approach the house. His first thought was that it was Sarah Matheson back to see them. It looked like her utility, but it was a dark-haired young man who got out first and went to the other side of the vehicle.

  ‘It’s Angus, our Angus!’ David announced. ‘And there’s someone with him.’

  Catriona and Moira both got up quickly and joined him. ‘It’s a girl,’ Moira said.

  ‘So it is,’ Catriona added as she looked across at the couple with interest.

  They opened the screen door and went down the steps to meet the newcomers. David stood back and let his wife and daughter go ahead.

  ‘Mum,’ Angus said, and hugged her. And then ‘Moy,’ and another hug.

  ‘Angus, what a lovely surprise,’ Catriona exclaimed.

  David walked down to the utility to join them.

  ‘Dad,’ he said and they shook hands.

  ‘Dad, this is Sue-Ellen. We want to get married.’

  David surveyed the tall, striking, dark-haired girl at his side. ‘Do you now? Is there a reason for this apparent rush to the altar?’ David asked probingly.

  Sue-Ellen had been told a lot about David and Catriona. She knew that David was a bush legend and millionaire and Catriona had been an outstanding equestrienne and beauty. As she looked at David, she saw a still handsome dark-haired man who was three or four inches taller than his son; a man with a commanding presence and the physique of a champion swimmer. Catriona had obviously been a beauty and was still very attractive with a terrific figure for her age. If she married Angus, as she had told him she would, these would be the two people who would most affect her future life. Angus had told her that his father could not be fooled by sweet talk and was a straight-from-the-shoulder man who respected honesty.

  ‘In fact, until quite recently I wasn’t sure that I wanted him – but once I’m persuaded there’s no looking back, and we’re desperate to start our life together.’

  David laughed out loud. ‘Good for you, Sue-Ellen. There were times when I wasn’t sure that I wanted him. Come in and we’ll all sit down and have a yak about everything. I suppose Angus did mention that he had a sister?’

  ‘Many times. I believe you’ve been holding the fort here, Moira,’ Sue-Ellen said with a smile.

  ‘Trying to,’ Moira laughed. ‘The trouble is that Dad keeps buying properties and there’s no one left here to run them!’

  ‘Well, I’m home now so that should ease things a bit,’ Angus announced, looking very happy with himself.

  ‘Angus is a surprise packet, Sue-Ellen. He didn’t tell us that he had someone special in his life – and you must certainly be a special girl!’ Catriona said.

  ‘I think he wanted to surprise you,’ Sue-Ellen said.

  ‘Well, he’s achieved that,’ Catriona agreed. ‘I’ll get some smoko. I know how Angus can eat. He’s like his father in that regard.’

  ‘So you want to get married? When?’ David asked, when they were sitting round the table together on the verandah drinking their tea.

  Angus glanced at Sue-Ellen before answering. ‘Well, er … that depends a bit on you, Dad.’

  ‘On me? What’s it
got to do with me?’ David asked.

  ‘Because it depends on whether you want me here with you,’ Angus replied.

  David frowned. ‘Why wouldn’t I want you here, Angus? I thought the purpose of you going to Long-reach was so you would be better equipped for the job here.’

  ‘What Angus means is that he realises he behaved like a goat in the past and he has been wondering if you would hold that against him,’ Sue-Ellen said. David looked at her and smiled. He liked this girl more and more. Sue-Ellen wasn’t blinded by his son’s looks and had her head well screwed on. He reckoned she could be the making of Angus.

  ‘I won’t dispute that Angus behaved like a goat, Sue-Ellen. I’d put it in stronger terms than that. If he’s ready to settle down, I’ve got more than enough work for him to handle,’ David said.

  ‘Do you have somewhere we could live?’ Sue-Ellen asked.

  So practical, David thought. ‘Do you like horses, Sue-Ellen?’

  ‘Yes, I like horses, Mr MacLeod. I wouldn’t say I could ride them as well as you people, but I can handle a horse well enough to get by.’

  ‘She’s modest as well as good-looking,’ Angus joked.

  David smiled, and continued. ‘I can offer you the choice of two places, Sue-Ellen. I’ve had the homestead at Strath Fillan painted and renovated. I’ve also added extra horse yards and buildings. I’m standing a horse called Western Star at Strath Fillan. He won a lot of money for us when he was racing, and now his foals are turning out great. So there’s a lot of demand for him as a sire and I’ve got a full book of mares for him. You and Angus can have the job of looking after Strath Fillan, which means that from time to time you’d be helping us here and at Poitrel. This probably doesn’t make much sense to you, Sue-Ellen, but Angus can explain it to you. That’s the first option.’

  Sue-Ellen could not believe her ears. The choice of two properties to call home.

  ‘The second option is Glenview, the place I’ve just purchased at Walcha. It’s a nice little property but the winters are cold. I bought the place with the intention of growing some real super wool. It will be de-stocked for a few months. Angus hasn’t seen it, but if it interests you we’ll take a run up so you can give it the once-over,’ David said.

  He hadn’t mentioned Glen Morrison because when Shaun Covers retired he wanted it for Moira, should she never marry. He hoped Angus would opt for Strath Fillan because he would be able to keep a close eye on him there. The boy was good with horses and should be able to do the job on his head.

  ‘We can take a run down to Strath Fillan so you can see what you think of it, Sue-Ellen,’ David said.

  ‘It seems that if there is a house, we needn’t delay getting married too long,’ Sue-Ellen said.

  ‘If there hadn’t been a house we would have built you one, Sue-Ellen. The house part of it need never have concerned you. Is this what you want? I mean, do you want to live on the land?’ David asked.

  ‘Of course. That’s why I went to Longreach. I also want to get involved in issues that affect women in the bush. I’m not a fire-breathing feminist but there are issues that I feel strongly about,’ Sue-Ellen said.

  ‘Sue-Ellen is a very good debater, Dad. She’s very smart,’ Angus said with obvious pride.

  ‘Sssh, Angus. I’m not as smart as Angus, Mr MacLeod. He beat me in every subject. Mind you, he was a bit irresponsible when I first met him and I told him he’d have to shape up or forget me. I’m saying what I think because I don’t want you to get the idea that I’m unaware of what an idiot Angus used to be. If he hadn’t shaped up, I wouldn’t be here. I’m aware that you have a lot of property and if I had wanted to trap Angus into marriage I could have done it a long time ago,’ Sue-Ellen said.

  ‘It seems to me that you might be the best thing that’s happened to Angus, Sue-Ellen. And I think you and I will get on just fine,’ David said.

  ‘Can Sue-Ellen stay here tonight?’ Angus asked.

  ‘She can stay as long as she wants to, Angus. Cat will look after that part of the business. Let’s all pile in the car and we’ll let you see Strath Fillan,’ David said.

  David was immensely relieved. It seemed to him that Angus had unconsciously chosen just the right kind of young woman to straighten him out. If Sue-Ellen couldn’t do the job, nobody could. Angus might be smarter than Sue-Ellen, as the girl had said, but he reckoned she had a mile more commonsense.

  When they arrived at Strath Fillan Sue-Ellen made straight for the stallion paddock where Western Star wheeled and plunged in equine splendour.

  ‘God, what a beautiful horse,’ she said with excitement. ‘Is that Western Star?’

  ‘That’s him,’ David said, with obvious pride.

  ‘Angus has told me all about his mother and his sisters. Oh, and about the old man who gave you his mother. The mother of this fellow must have been a great mare,’ Sue-Ellen said.

  ‘She was, Sue-Ellen. We buried her at Poitrel, where she was foaled. I reckon old Wilf would have liked that. This fellow was her last foal, and she was very old when she had him.’

  Strath Fillan looked very smart in its new paint. David had installed a new gas stove to augment the combustion stove and there was a new washing machine and refrigerator. Sue-Ellen went from room to room and then walked down the back steps and looked up at the tops.

  ‘It is a very picturesque property,’ she said.

  ‘Is the house satisfactory? I mean, would you be happy to live here?’ David asked.

  ‘It will do very nicely,’ Sue-Ellen answered.

  ‘You should suspend judgement until you see Glenview, Sue-Ellen. It’s a nice little place and Angus might feel happier there. He wouldn’t have his father to contend with so often. However, it’s up to you two. If you’ve seen enough we’ll call in at Glen Morrison. Poitrel can wait for another day as I like to give Jean some notice before I take people there. Jean is nearly as old as Mum and I don’t like to fuss – she always wants to put on a big feed and I don’t want her to worry about that sort of thing any more,’ David said.

  ‘I know about Jean and her artist friend,’ Sue-Ellen said.

  David nodded. ‘It seems you’re fairly well acquainted with the situation here.’

  ‘I asked a lot of questions,’ she replied.

  ‘I’m sure you did,’ David said.

  ‘I wasn’t being nosey, Mr MacLeod. I wanted to find out a bit more about your family. This was after I agreed to marry Angus. I didn’t want to seem an ignoramus when I came here. So he told me about your dogs and your horses and the sheep and the cattle. And he talked a lot about Moira and about Dougal. I’m looking forward very much to seeing Glen Morrison.’

  Sue-Ellen was very very impressed with Glen Morrison. She walked up and down the row of tethered cattle escorted by Shaun Covers, who positively glowed when Sue-Ellen praised them. She had been told that Shaun, who was only a few years younger than David’s mother, had been with the MacLeods for many years. He had made noises several times about retiring but when David asked him if he wanted to leave, he always refused. ‘Aw, I reckon I’ll hang on a bit longer till you see how young Angus turns out,’ he said.

  Shaun was a lean old chap who cared for the MacLeod rams and bulls as if they were his own. As Moira was to tell her, ‘Shaun looks after the sheep and cattle like a clucky hen looks after her chickens.’

  From the bull shed they moved to the steer pens where several animals were being prepared for major shows. ‘David keeps a check on the meat side of things,’ Shaun explained. From this pen they walked across to the ram shed, where Sue-Ellen stood transfixed as she took in the quality of the sheep. After she had inspected the wool on several of the rams she told David they were the deepest rams she had ever seen. David was very impressed because this was one of the characteristics he had been striving to implant in his sheep.

  ‘My Dad would love to see these rams,’ she said. ‘They are the best lot of rams I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen the odd top sheep but not in the number you
’ve got here. Of course, I’m not a real expert like you, Mr MacLeod, or like Moira and Angus, but I won a couple of Junior Judging competitions before I went to Longreach. I know a good sheep when I see one. These are finer than our sheep.’

  ‘I think fine is the way to go, Sue-Ellen,’ David said.

  As the day was drawing in he told her that they’d have a look at the rest of Glen Morrison next day.

  Sue-Ellen agreed Glenview was a nice little property but apart from the challenge of producing some top-priced wool, to live there would be a bland existence. The real action centred about Strath Fillan and Glen Morrison, where there would always be a constant stream of visitors. This represented the hub of the whole MacLeod ‘empire’. Sue-Ellen began to feel excited about becoming part of it because she would be involved in the AI sheep program.

  Just outside Armidale the mobile phone pealed sharply. David had found this new technology very helpful. It enabled him to keep in touch with not only members of his family but also Shaun and Greg. Catriona took the call as David was driving. She listened intently before putting the phone down.

  ‘It was Moira, darling. Kate has had a bad turn. Anne is with her at the hospital. They took her in by ambulance.’

  Catriona watched her husband’s face tighten. Kate was very special to David. She had come to High Peaks at a very important time. They had needed help, financially and physically, and Kate had become a director and remained so ever since. She had been a second mother to David, and his trusty offsider, as well as a top stockperson and as good a campdrafter as most men involved in competitions. Over the years Kate had provided David with the encouragement and support he needed to expand the High Peaks Pastoral Company. It was arthritis that had forced her to give up managing Glen Morrison though she had battled on bravely. Younger than her sister by a couple of years, Kate had aged more in recent times.