Miles Off Course by Sulari Gentill

Author:Sulari Gentill [Gentill, Sulari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781921997037
Publisher: Pantera Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

O’Shea’s Hut was situated in a long valley, sheltered from the winds by sharp rises on either side and conveniently near a small stream on which a water wheel had been constructed. It was not quite a homestead but it was a great deal less rustic than Rope’s End. There were two chimneys on the hut—a large flue of stone which identified the fireplace and a second smaller chimney. The lean-tos were well stocked with firewood, bags of flour, alcohol, and other supplies. Stockyards and cattle runs had also been erected near the hut, but they were currently empty. A freshly slaughtered beast was hanging by a chain from the branch of an old stringy bark.

“These blokes are well set up,” Clyde murmured, as they rode up.

Rowland agreed. “It does seem rather more civilised than Rope’s End.”

There were only two men in the hut, the others having ridden out to check on the cattle. Rowland introduced himself and Clyde, and O’Shea’s men cautiously invited them in and offered them a drink. The inside of the hut was also well appointed. A sturdy table for dining; a cast iron, potbellied stove, as well as the fire; and an Astor radiola, apparently powered by the waterwheel.

“Lou Merrick, Mr. Sinclair.” The solid, bearded stockman shook Rowland’s hand vigorously. “Me mate’s Hans Iverson.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Merrick. Mr. Iverson.” Rowland greeted each man in turn.

“Sinclair? Say, you’re not the fella who buck jumped in his wedding suit?”

Iverson looked Rowland up and down and concluded that he was indeed. His face creased with amusement. “Would have made it easy to lay you out, I guess.”

“Lay me out?”

Merrick grinned. “Most folks figured they’d be burying you after the buck jumping.”

Clyde chuckled.

“You were at Rules Point I take it?” Rowland smiled.

“Naw, but word travels fast up here. What can we do you for?”

“I seem to have lost one of my men, Mr. Merrick. I was hoping that you might have seen him.”

“Simpson.”

“Yes.”

“We heard he’d done a runner. That snake fella, Eichorn, reckons he saw Simpson in Corryong.”

“Did you run into Simpson while he was out here?” Clyde asked.

“We don’t really do much socialising.”

Rowland smiled again. For some reason an image of the Cassidy brothers in evening gowns came too easily to mind.

“That’s probably a good thing, Rowly,” Clyde said, settling into an easychair with his coffee. “If your crew saw this place they’d start to think the Sinclairs weren’t doing the right thing by them.”

Rowland nodded. “It’s certainly what I’d be thinking.”

Merrick seemed gratified. “Mr. O’Shea used to muster his own cattle once, and he ain’t forgotten. We don’t see him no more, of course, but he insists that the men are looked after proper… makes ’em loyal. You wouldn’t find any of my boys wandering off the job.”

“Indeed.” Rowland gave no sign of his annoyance with the widespread insistence that Simpson had walked away.

“So how many head are you carrying up here?” Clyde asked with a sideways glance at Rowland.

Merrick smiled smugly. “Two thousand.”

“Blimey—how big’s the lease?”

“A thousand acres, give or take.

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