The Pick-Pocket's Plight (The Pick-Pocket Series) by Lindsey Hutchinson

Author:Lindsey Hutchinson [Hutchinson, Lindsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2024-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

28

On the ranch at Fremantle, Australia, BJ and John discussed the implications of BJ suddenly becoming the new overseer.

‘Doing Mac’s books doesn’t take up much of your time,’ John said.

‘True,’ BJ agreed, ‘but how are the men going to react to having someone a lot younger than them being their boss so to speak – below Mac, of course.’

‘BJ, they all know what you’ve done for this place. They’re all aware of how you got Colin, James and Clem released from the sheep station.’

‘That was down to Mac, not me,’ BJ protested.

‘If not for you, Mac would never have known about them in the first place,’ John reminded him. ‘Then it was because of you that the whipping post was torn up and burned.’

BJ couldn’t argue with this, but still he was worried about being able to keep so many men happy with their lot.

‘They respect you, BJ, which is more than can be said for Boney.’

Mac had called for every convict on the ranch to gather in the yard to listen to what he had to say. He informed them that Boney was leaving and BJ would be taking his place. The yips and calls and clapping rang out across the expanse of the ranch at the good news. Mac then returned to his office but the men stood and watched Boney being transported off the property by horse and cart. Everything he owned was shoved into a Gladstone bag and with his whip firmly in hand he climbed aboard. The catcalls began almost immediately.

‘Good riddance!’

‘Go to hell, you nasty bugger!’

‘We hope you rot!’

‘You’d better hope we don’t meet once I’m free!’

On and on the shouts echoed until the horse moved off, dragging the cart behind it, then the clapping and whooping became louder than ever.

Boney scowled at the shouts and jeers, whistles and applause that followed in his wake.

Indoors, BJ and John listened to the shouting and jeering until it finally faded away, telling them Boney had at last left the premises.

‘Well, you can’t hide in here forever so you’d best be getting on with your new job,’ John encouraged.

Taking a breath, BJ walked from the house and out across the yard to the first corral.

The foreman saw him coming and began to clap, the other men joining in as BJ approached. He couldn’t help but grin as he was patted on the back.

‘Thank you,’ he mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed. ‘How are things here?’

The foreman informed him all was well and BJ moved on to the next area where spontaneous applause broke out again. Each place he visited he received the same greeting; clearly all the men appeared happy enough to have him as their overseer.

Part of his new job was having meetings with Mac about the buying and selling of cattle, the welfare of the men, and the upkeep of the properties on the ranch, for example the bunkhouses, canteen, shower areas and the latrines. He would also be in constant contact with the foremen so any problems could be dealt with immediately they arose.

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