Twenty-seven
On fresh horses, they began the last leg of their trek through the Stoneys to head for Wombat Flats. After several hours, the trail widened where they skimmed the top of the escarpment giving them an endless view of the horizon. There the stony trail began its descent, where the walls of stone that had towered over them suddenly fell away to reveal an endless blue sky.
‘Have a gecko’s gander at that …’ In the lead, Charlie stopped his horse and pushed back the brim of his hat. His words echoing past them to disappear among the smooth, twisty maze of sandstone walls that made up the Stoneys.
‘What did Charlie say?’ Harper asked.
‘Have a look.’ Ash craned his neck, sitting higher in the saddle, keen to see what the attention was all about.
‘Tell you what, lads, some days are like diamonds.’ Charlie grinned at Ash, then nodded at the road ahead. ‘Welcome to Cascades Spur, and the best view of Wombat Flats.’
Ash rode closer, his eyes widening as his jaw slackened at the sight of Cascades Spur. It was a ledge of solid rock that curved like a stockman’s spur, with water cascading over it, cooling the air with clean, crisp spring water he tasted on his tongue.
It was another waterfall, many times bigger than the one they’d left behind at Grass Tree Creek. And they were standing beneath it!
With cupped hands to the curtain of water he took a mouthful. The taste of natural spring water was crisp, with a sweet, refreshing purity of rainwater blending with invigorating minerals and a subtle earthy undertone to its flavour. He could almost taste the untamed outback’s wilderness.
He washed his face, then did the same for Mason, strapped to his chest. ‘Good, Mason?’
The kid squealed with delight, his arms reaching for the water, with his tongue poking out for more. They splashed water at each other, their laughs blending to echo off the rocky outcrop that made up Cascades Spur.
‘Try this, Harper. I doubt you’ll taste water as sweet as this anywhere.’
Harper nudged her horse closer, sitting high in the saddle as her own horse eagerly lapped at the water sprays. She cupped some water and timidly drank. ‘This is amazing.’ Her eyes widened. ‘How can there be so many waterfalls out here?’
‘They’re all over the Territory. But I’ve never ridden under one that was part of the cattle track.’ He removed his hat and brushed the water over his hair to cool off, the beads trickling down the back of his shirt, but also spraying over Mason who only laughed louder, as the horse nickered with approval.
‘I now understand what Charlie meant by saying a day is like diamonds .’ With a soft smile, Harper pointed at the small rainbows cast by the curtain of fresh water that shimmered as it spilled towards a wonderland. It was a panoramic view of Wombat Flats. A hidden valley surrounded by walls of sandstone where more towering waterfalls fell from various sides.
‘I get why they call it Wombat Flats.’ Ash nodded at the valley, which was shaped like a fat wombat, where the sun’s rays highlighted assorted flourishing ghost gums. Slender green grasses flanked the sides of the winding network of creeks that wound through to pool at the end, creating a small lake.
It was a paradise that even had Ryder stopping his horse to take in the view.
‘Do we really own all of that?’ Ash nudged his horse to stand beside his big brother.
‘We do.’ Ryder bundled up his reins in his gloved hands. ‘You know what? Today, I’m glad you boys talked me into buying this place.’ Ryder nodded, then rode off to catch up to Charlie at the path that widened to the valley floor.
‘Are they cows?’ Harper pointed, sitting more comfortably in the saddle now. Her smile, which matched the shine in her eyes, did something to his chest, making him inhale a little deeper.
‘Cattle.’ Ash nodded at the Brahman that were like white dots on a canvas. Hundreds of cattle. They had a herd—a big one.
‘I see why you guys have such a love for this country. I get it now …’ She pointed to the massive vista of pristine countryside. ‘No vehicle has ever been down there. Do you know how rare that is?’
‘Huh.’ His eyebrows lifted. She’d made a good point.
Sharing this moment with Harper seemed special, as if something passed between them. Instead of looking at the landscape like she’d crashed onto the moon, Harper was starting to see the untold beauty of the outback. It made him want to share his entire world with her.
‘ Oi, lovebirds. You’re holding up traffic.’ Dex scowled at them as he and Bree led a dozen horses in the rear.
‘What did he say?’ Harper asked.
‘Ignore the grumpy ass.’ Ash frowned at his brother for ruining the moment.
He nudged his horse forward, but waited for Harper to join him. They rode side by side down the path, the rock of the saddle effortlessly putting Mason to sleep.
Mason might not remember today, but one day when he’s older Ash would love to bring the boy back. They’d swim in the falls, go camping, and tell stories around the campfire under the stars, and create their own rock art, by painting directions to never get lost in the Stoneys. This place was close to heaven. No, this was better—it was a stockman’s paradise.
Wait. Was he planning a future with the boy?
But then another thought hammered up his spine, making him shift in his saddle as if fighting a case of fiery indigestion.
How much water was the mine going to take? And how big of an impact would it have on Wombat Flats, where various waterfalls flowed along the escarpment?
‘Hey, Harper? Have you heard about the new mine moving in next door?’
Harper shrugged, as they rode along the trail towards the valley floor. ‘I know something has upset you guys, but no one’s told me the entire story. Besides, it’s none of my business.’
‘But it’s mine. Even if I don’t fully understand it myself.’ He paused to rub the back of his neck.
‘Why? What’s going on?’ Even though she had a habit of looking down her nose at things, she didn’t tease or judge him.
When he’d spoken to her about gamifying the station, her honesty had been refreshing. Although, at times he struggled to talk to her without his hormones getting in the way, he now had the perfect topic, that was far too close to home.
‘Well, we got this letter …’ With his hand tenderly holding Mason’s head as the boy slept heavily against his chest, he spoke freely with Harper, who listened and asked good questions.
Looking at Wombat Flats, it worried him that the new mine would infringe on this place, on the rest of their home. Especially when the Station Hand had told him that no cattle station had ever won against the might of the mining companies getting what they wanted—which was their water.