‘Are you mustering at the moment?’
‘Yeah, we’ve got a couple coming up.’
‘Do you need a camp cook?’ she asked. ‘I’m wanting to get out of here. You wouldn’t believe the number of truckies who think I offer services that I don’t! I dunno what goes on at other roadhouses, but I’m not that girl.’
‘I don’t need a cook. Sorry.’
‘No harm in asking.’
Dave turned the page of the paper and coughed. He heard Bulldust walk to the corner of the deli area and looked up as he glanced in.
They locked eyes, neither willing to look away first.
‘Susie,’ Bulldust said, his eyes still locked on Dave’s, ‘I’ll have my sandwich in here.’
Bulldust walked towards him and Dave chanted his mantra a couple of times before he got to the table.
Deadpan face, deadpan stare. No emotion. Don’t let anything get to you. Don’t show fear.
‘Can I sit here?’
Dave took another sip of coffee and shrugged. ‘Free country.’
Bulldust pulled out the chair and sat opposite at him. ‘Glad I’ve seen you again. I thought you might’ve left town after the welcome you’ve had.’
‘I’m not easily scared off.’
Bulldust regarded him curiously. ‘Where you from?’
‘I told you lot last night, none of your business.’
‘Hey,’ Bulldust spread his hands out wide. ‘I’m here to apologise, not make you angry.’
‘Don’t need your apology.’ He waved at the waitress. ‘Can I have another coffee?’
‘Hungry? How about I buy you a feed to say sorry.’
Dave stood up so quickly, his chair fell over. ‘Cancel the coffee, Susie.’ To Bulldust he said, ‘Mate, I told you, I’m not in the mood for people to be friendly. If I wanted a friend, I wouldn’t have belted your crew last night. Either shut the fuck up and just sit there or I’m leaving.’
‘Steady on, steady on. Fine. Nothing to eat. Just bring the man some more coffee, Susie. Think he needs it.’
A young woman came in and paid for some fuel, and as soon as she’d finished serving her, Susie brought two mugs of coffee and took the dirty ones away. Dave noticed she moved a bit quicker and seemed intimidated.
They sat in silence while Dave kept reading the paper and Bulldust ate his sandwich. He chewed loudly and it was getting on Dave’s nerves.
‘What do your tatts mean?’
‘To remind me.’
‘To stay strong?’
‘Yeah.’ Dave looked up. ‘What about you?’
‘My name.’
‘Bulldust?’
‘Yeah.’ He took another bite of his sandwich and Dave went back to his paper. A few minutes later he asked again, ‘Where you from?’
Dave slammed the paper down. ‘Fuck, you’re thick.’
‘Hey, that’s just rude. Enough’s enough. You’ve got some serious issues here. I take most things except when people are impolite.’
‘No skin off my nose,’ Dave answered, shrugging. ‘You don’t have to sit here.’
Bulldust started to laugh and Dave’s head snapped up.
‘What?’
‘You jumped-up little fucker. You remind me of me when I was younger. An angry pissant. What the fuck is your problem? Who’s pissed you off?’
Dave frowned, then smiled. ‘You.’
‘I can’t help that. What the hell are you doing out here?’
‘My bike broke down.’
‘And look out. The coffee has kicked in.’
Dave looked at him without any expression on his face.
‘So you’re up shit creek without a paddle? Not having transport.’
‘Yeah. Gotta find a job so I can pay off the repairs.’
‘What do you do?’
‘Bit of this and that.’
‘Thought we’d got past that shit.’
‘I can turn my hand to most things.’
‘Done any mustering?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Ride a bike?’
‘That’s how I got here.’
‘Where’d you do the mustering?’
‘Western Australia.’ He paused. Maybe now was the time to give him something. ‘I’m from a farm.’
A smile spread across Bulldust’s face. ‘Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? How the hell did you end up here?’
Dave dragged up the bitterness and anger he’d felt that night when his dad had told him to go and not come back. ‘Dad kicked me off the farm. Wasn’t room for this son.’ His breathing quickened as his anger forced its way to the surface. He closed his fist around the half empty coffee cup and tapped it up and down on the table.
‘Miss it?’
‘Only thing I ever wanted to do.’
Bulldust sat back and regarded him. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Dave.’
‘Well, Dave, today’s your lucky day. I’m a contract musterer and I’m a man short. Want a job?’ He paused. ‘If that dicky leg of yours isn’t going to fuck you over.’
Narrowing his eyes, he stared at Bulldust and ignored the jibe about his limp. ‘Why would you offer a stranger a job?’
‘I’m not offering to marry you. You need a job, I need another bloke who can ride a bike. Quid pro quo.’
‘Thank god for that, you’re too ugly for my liking.’
Bulldust shook his head with a little smirk on his face. ‘If I don’t knock your block off at some stage, one of the team will.’
‘Bring it on.’
‘You want the work or not?’
‘Yeah.’ Dave didn’t say anything for a minute. ‘Thanks.’
Bulldust nodded. ‘My depot is on the other side of town. Last property towards the river. Be there in the morning. We leave at daylight.’ He got up and threw fifty dollars on the table. ‘Should be enough to pay for your coffee. Make sure you bring a tin of the stuff if it’s what makes you civil.’
‘Do I need anything else?’
‘Just bring what you’ve got now.’
Dave nodded and Bulldust strode out of the roadhouse.
Watching him go, Dave felt like punching the air but kept his face expressionless. That was a little easier than he’d expected.
When Susie came back, he ordered bacon and eggs and used Bulldust’s fifty to pay for it.
‘Need to see the copper in charge,’ Dave said, leaning on the counter of the police station.
‘What for?’ asked the constable behind the glass.
‘None of your business. I’ll talk to the bloke in charge.’ He crossed his arms and sat down on one of the plastic chairs with his kit at his feet. Prepared for a long wait, he pulled the Jack Reacher novel out and started to read.
Justin was standing behind the desk. ‘Is there something I can help you with, sir?’
‘Bloody oath. I gotta be in court next week. One of your pigs cuffed me on a heap of bullshit charges. I’m here to tell you I’m not skipping town, but I got a mustering job. Not sure when I’ll be back.’
‘Your name?’
‘Dave Barrows.’
‘Well, Mr Barrows, if you’ve been asked to be in court, you need to be in court.’
‘And if you want me out of your town, I need a job to fix me bike. I got a job, me bike’s being fixed and I’ll be back if I can be. I’m not skipping town. I’m going to work, good honest work. Not that you fucks would know anything about that. But I’ll be back because my bike is here.’ He stood up and walked out without giving the senior sergeant a chance to respond.
Next he went to see Isaac. ‘Got a job, mate, so your money is right.’
‘Glad to hear it. What are you doing?’
‘Mustering.’
Isaac’s face changed. ‘You going out with Bulldust’s team?’
Dave nodded.
‘Be careful. They’re a rough crowd.’
‘Thanks for the heads-up.’
Chapter 27
Spencer heard the
door into the police station open. He didn’t take much notice and continued the report he was writing.
Then he stopped and looked up. Nathan Underwood was sitting behind the glass wall and had just said, ‘How can I … Mel! What are you doing here?’ He got up and came out from behind the glass, holding out his arms to give her a hug.
‘Hi, Nathan. Nice to see you.’
Spencer peered out into the reception area and saw Melinda standing at the counter. She returned Nathan’s hug and smiled.
‘What are you doing here? I haven’t seen Dave for ages. Is he with you?’
Spencer could see the question had thrown her.
‘Ah …’
He quickly got up from his desk and threw the door open. ‘I thought I heard your name, Mel! Ah, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Give us a cuddle!’ He held open his arms and Melinda went to him.
‘It’s good to see you too,’ she said against his shoulder. ‘How are you?’
‘Just dandy, just dandy.’
‘And Kathy?’
Spencer grabbed her hand. ‘She’s great, as always. I tell you what, why don’t we go and get some lunch and we’ll catch up properly.’
‘Perfect.’
Nathan waved goodbye. ‘Tell Dave I send my regards,’ he called after them.
‘I will.’ She turned to Spencer. ‘Doesn’t he know?’
‘No one except me does. That’s how this works.’
Spencer guided her across the street to The Mug and to a table at the back.
Once they’d ordered, Spencer asked her, ‘How are you, Mel?’
‘Not too bad,’ she answered, looking down at her hands.
‘And Bec, she’s not with you?’
‘No, I didn’t want to do the drive with her. It’s a long trip.’
‘It sure is.’ He leaned back. ‘So why are you here?’ He was curious and wary.
‘When’s Dave coming home?’ she said abruptly.
‘I don’t know the answer to that question, Mel. You know that.’
‘I need to know, Spencer. It’s really important. Our circumstances have changed.’
Spencer kept his face impassive as he asked, ‘In what way?’
‘I’m pregnant.’
‘Oh.’ The word came out involuntarily.
Mel watched his face and gave a humourless laugh. ‘Really, Spencer? You’re wondering whether Dave’s the father? What do you think of me?’
Spencer inclined his head. ‘I was under the impression you weren’t close before Dave left, Mel. It wasn’t the news I was expecting.’
‘Right. You thought I was coming here to give you divorce papers to give to him, did you?’
‘It had crossed my mind.’ He shrugged. ‘Sorry, but it’s happened before.’
‘Not surprising. But don’t worry, Spencer,’ she said sarcastically. ‘Dave and I slept together the last time I saw him and then he was gone before I woke up. Ever the man, he left without saying goodbye. He’s the father, there’s no doubt.’
‘Sorry.’
Their drinks arrived, and they were quiet while the waitress put them down.
Melinda took a sip of her orange juice and then pushed it away.
‘How’ve you been?’ Spencer wanted to know.
‘Sick. Sicker than when I was pregnant with Bec. It’s been horrible.’
‘How many weeks?’
‘Two months. The timing fits, in case you want to work it out.’
‘Jeez, Mel, I’m sorry, okay? I’m a cop, I get paid to be suspicious.’
‘Not of your friends.’
‘Who had the chicken salad?’ The waitress interrupted their heated conversation.
Melinda put up her hand and smiled. ‘Thank you.’
‘That leaves the beef burger for you, Spencer.’
‘Thanks.’ Spencer turned the plate around so he could reach the chips and popped one in his mouth. He looked up at Melinda. ‘Again, I apologise. You’re right. I shouldn’t have thought anything else.’
‘Thank you.’
‘What would you like me to do?’
‘Can he come home?’
‘No, Mel. He’s right where he needs to be at the moment. He’s doing good work.’
Melinda nodded and picked at her salad. ‘Can you get him a message?’
Spencer hesitated. ‘I can. But it might take me a few weeks and you need to understand that giving him this type of information might put him in danger.’
‘What? That his wife is pregnant? How could that put him in danger? No one else needs to know.’
‘Look, going undercover is a tricky job. You’re acting all the time. Playing a role. And if you slip up, your life could be in danger. To give him this sort of info, well, it could make him stuff up. Rush things, do things he wouldn’t normally do because he wants to get home to you.’ He took a bite of his burger and chewed. ‘If you want to let him know I will, but he won’t be able to come home and it could cloud his thinking.’
Tears slipped down Melinda’s cheeks. ‘The coppers always win, don’t they? He moved here because he was told if he did his penance out here, he’d get into the stock squad. Then I didn’t like it, so I shifted but he stayed, because the ever-elusive stock squad was waiting, and now I can’t tell him I’m having his baby because he’s undercover for you again! I hate this!’
Spencer reached across the table and took her hand. ‘So many wives feel like you do. Their husbands are married to the job. But I can guarantee you, Mel, Dave loves you and Bec with all his heart. He asked me before he left to look out for you. That’s why I ring you every so often, and why Kathy and I came to visit you last month. Because Dave is my mate, and he loves you. And I have his back.’
Melinda sniffed. ‘Sometimes I think you guys are closer than we ever were.’
‘That’s not possible,’ Spencer said.
‘Dave used to say that you had to trust your partner as much as your wife and it was like a marriage. You guys were the closest I’d ever seen him with any of his partners.’
‘I don’t deny we’re great mates. I love him.’ Spencer smiled wryly. ‘There you go, I said it! I love him. And, like I said, I’ve got his back. That’s why I’m going to ask you to let me hold on to this wonderful news just for another month. Until he’s entrenched where he is. With any luck, he’ll be home by then anyway.’ He looked at her. ‘Would you let me do that?’
Melinda let out quiet sob and Spencer squeezed her hand.
‘Okay,’ she whispered quietly. ‘Okay.’ She looked up at him, her eyes red. ‘But you need to do something for me in exchange.’
‘I will if I can.’
‘When he’s out of this I want you to get him sent back to Bunbury so we can be together.’
‘What about the stock squad?’
‘Surely he can travel? Can’t he live in Bunbury and also do what makes him happy?’
Spencer cleared his throat. ‘I will do what I can,’ he promised.
Chapter 28
Dave found eight cows and calves in the bush and gently eased them out and angled them towards the main mob. Bulldust, George and someone called Shane, whom he’d only met yesterday, were keeping an eye on about four hundred head they’d mobbed together already.
‘Eight coming from the east,’ he said into his mouthpiece.
‘Need help?’
‘No.’
He ran them fast, so they didn’t have time to turn around, and pushed them through the knee-high spinifex and buffel grass. One of the cows let out a loud bellow and tried to turn around. Her calf answered and Dave revved the engine, hurrying them on. There was a movement to his right. A bullock that had been lying in the shade was getting to his feet and his eyes were fixed on Dave. The horn span would’ve been at least a metre and he knew instantly he’d have to be careful.
He left the cows and doubled back around to get behind the bullock and encourage him to go with the cows. With any luck one of them would be cycling and he’d get her scent.
When Dave saw him again, the bullock was looking straight at him with his head lowered.
Shit.
The bullock bellowed again, and this time pawed at the ground.
‘Chris?’ Dave spoke into the mic. ‘Could do with a hand. East of the main mob.’
In seconds the whomp, whomp, whomp of the chopper could be heard and Dave saw the trees and grasses starting to bend under the blades’ downdraft. The bullock heard too and looked up, while Dave backed the bike out carefully and let Chris take over.
The chopper came down low to the ground and Chris nudged the animal with the skids. Dust flew up and for a second Dave couldn’t see anything, blinded by the whirly whirly the helicopter sent up.
The beast put his head down and charged at the chopper, but Chris easily lifted it out of the way and came in behind again, this time nudging him on the arse. Angrily he turned and charged again. This time he was going in the right direction, so Chris flew higher and let Dave come in behind.
Like the cows, he ran him fast, not giving him the opportunity to think or turn around. The bull ran from the noise and, seeing the other cows, charged into the centre of them and kept running. They followed, with Dave behind them. He heard Chris on the radio.
‘Incoming to main mob. Eastern side. George, hold where you are.’
Dave loved the adrenalin rush he got from mustering. It was completely different to the quiet way of bringing sheep in from a small paddock, which he could muster in the space of a few short hours.
That morning they’d left the camp and he and Bulldust had headed off around the fence line while George and Shane had gone the opposite way. The plan was they’d meet in the middle with the mob they’d collected along the way. Chris had directed from the air, helping them herd the cattle together into one big mob. Now they were only about a kilometre from the main yards; they mustered the whole twenty-thousand-acre paddock and the sun was setting on the day.
‘Keep ’em together.’ Bulldust’s voice came over the radio. ‘Don’t lose ’em now.’
Without a Doubt Page 18
