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Nash McLeod, Hard to Figure

By: Egmont0409



CHAPTER 1

Although it was the first calendar month of spring in South Australia a nip in wind from the south-south-west and originating in the Southern Ocean, swept across the plains to the ranges and into the remote servicing town of Respite Crossing to emphasize only the foolish would be wearing warm weather clothing just yet.

Dressed in a zipped fleece-lined jacket that reached just below his hips, snug wool trousers, thick socks and old Army boots and a battered black stockman's hat, Nash McLeod drove into town in his veteran open ex-Army Jeep. 

Town dogs cowered and crept away to hide, perhaps indicating what smart dogs they were. Everyone knew Nash farmed sheep and shot stray dogs from up to a quarter-mile away where the dogs believed they were safe from anything. Nash had been a sniper in the war, no one knew what war or where, but he was reputed to have turned fifty over winter. 

Nobody particularly liked Nash McLeod but he was polite so everyone had no reason to actually dislike the grumpy sod, unless they had a dog missing. 

Rumor was Nash had fathered two of the seven children in the Mayor's brood and that perhaps explained why Nash was positively polite to the Mayor's wife, the only woman in town that Nash raised his hat to. Nash knew that Stella Stephens was his half-sister but only Stella and Nash knew that. Mayor Athol Stephens tended to believe the rumor about two of his brood being fathered by Nash, because one tends to believe persistent rumors. But the Mayor couldn't decided which two kids to cull because they all looked similar, having his blue eyes and pointy ears.

As usual, brown-eyed and rounded-eared Nash doubled parked outside Ma Brown's coffee and cake shop. 

Double parking was a tow-away offence but the khaki Jeep was left untouched and never drew a complaint or had a traffic violation ticket stuck under a windscreen wiper. Apparently having a reputation as a highly decorated sniper and being known to regard complainants as dogs has its benefits.

Stomping sheep shit from his boots before walking on Ma Brown's pristine scrubbed floor, Nash glanced across the street and stopped. Fully turning he left the boardwalk and crossed to the pathetic-looking youngster huddled and shivering on the concrete surround of the statue of a bronze rifleman commemorating the district's dead from the Boer War.

"What's wrong kid?"

The white-faced and blue-lipped waif with dark bags under the eyes looked up at him and said, "Nothing."

"Christ, you're a girl, a young woman."

"I'm eighteen and pregnant."

Nash rubbed his chin. "So?"

"Sod off."

Nash bent down and picked her up. 

The girl screamed, "Put me down you brute" but Nash returned across the street oblivious to her screams and the mouth-gaping stares of the few townspeople out and about before most businesses began to open for the day's trading. The kid was warming herself thumping at Nash with her fists, but she may just have well tried hammering a brick.

"Good morning Nash, what do we have here?"

"Ida grab a blanket and bring hot soup."

Ma Brown was staggered. In the fifteen years she'd known Nash he'd never called her anything but ma'am. She hadn't been aware he knew her name.

Ida hurried back with the thick wool blanket and then fetched a big mug of hot vegetable soup.

The girl looked at it and looked away.

"Start sipping or I'll cuff you," Nash growled.

She turned to look at him defiantly, saw his fearless, uncompromising face edged with a scowl and quickly cradled the cup and began sipping.

"It's the Findlay's brat isn't it?"

"Yes, Lisa."

"Call her parents and get them down here Ida."

Without looking at Ma Brown, Nash said she should tell Jake if he wasn't at the café with his wife within ten minutes he'd get a bullet up his ass.

The girl sitting beside Nash began shaking and he whispered, "Just kidding darling. He'll come running."

The both heard Ma Brown on the phone saying, "Yes Jessica, that's what he said, a bullet up the ass. No he didn't make a threat against you."

Burly coalminer Jake Findlay and his buxom wife hurried in and stood at the table in front of Nash.

"This your daughter?"

"Yes, she's my slut daughter."

"Watch your mouth Jake."

Jake thrust out his chest and bunched his hands into fists but Jessica urged, "No Jake, you know what happened to the O'Donovan family, completely obliterated."

"That was proven in Court to be a defective gas system."

"Jake, my mother told me Nash's uncle was a gasfitter. Nash would have learned from him."

Taking a step backwards, Jake said belligerently, "What do you want Nash?"

"I want to know why I found this girl dressed poorly and not at home?"

"Because I won't let the slut in the same house as me. When I'm home, she's out."

"Jessica?"

"When he's home I abide with Jake's decision."

Nash asked Ma Brown to get lawyer Tom Little down pronto.

"He doesn't leave for the office until 8:50. It's only 8:15."

"Ma'am, I know about your little secret."

Ida Brown turned white and raced to the phone.

"Jessica, grab two coffees and food for you and Jake. It will go on my tab. Sit down Jake."

Nash stood and repeated his request. The unsmiling Jake complied.

"He's on his way," Ida said. Nash thanked her and ordered hot milk for the kid and asked Ida to put everything being consumed on his tab.

"No, I owe you one Nash," she replied. "This is all on me. I'll pour coffee and butter a muffin for Tom."

Lean and bearded Tom Little entered and grinned. "A family conference with legal advice from me and no fee payable I take it?"

"You're sharp for a lawyer," Nash grinned. "Here comes your second breakfast. I understand any introduction between you and ma'am is unnecessary?"

Tom, who'd also been Nash's late father's lawyer, coped with his coughing fit and his secrete mistress managed not to drop his coffee and muffin.

"First Tom, I want you to seek from the Findlay's the age of their daughter Lisa sitting beside me."

Tom pulled out a notebook and ready to take notes asked, "Jake?"

"She's eighteen. What's this all about?"

"Preliminary moves to have Lisa removed to a more hospitable environment for her own safety and that of her baby, I would think," said Tom, who had a wife and three teenage kids. "But then I'm not running the show so don't take too much notice of me. This is for confirmation. Jessica how old is Lisa?"

"Eighteen years, three months and er three days."

"Lisa?"

There was silence.

Nash said softly, "Answer Mr Little."

"As mother said, eighteen years, three months and three days. Or four days if this talkfest continues much longer."

"Watch your lip Lisa."

"And if I don't daddy?"

"Shut your fucking mouth you slut."

Nash stood and said, "Let's have this out now Jake. Ma'am please fetch us a matching pair of carving knives."

Jessica screamed and Jake turned white and gasped, "Knives?"

"Yes daddy. Carve him up good Mr McLeod."

Nash was surprised the girl knew his name. He then heard Jake apologize to his daughter so sat down, bringing a gushed sigh of relief from Tom and a groan from Jessica. Ida Brown smiled.

"Right, Lisa has the choice of agreeing to come into my home care or going into care of the authorities until after the birth of her baby," Nash said. "What is to be Lisa, I'm giving you no other choice."

"I'm not going into state welfare care."

Nash smiled and said that was settled. 

Lisa looked at him horrified while Tom ran his finger around his shirt collar, aware the parents were looking at him expecting some action. He cleared his throat and said, "Nash is entitled to lay a complaint of child neglect and alleged abuse. Although Lisa is eighteen it would appear she has not shifted away from home so legally is still under the care of her parents. The Judge will either send her to a foster home or toss out the complaint after giving the parents a rap over the knuckles for mistreating their teenager. It is not for me to give an opinion on what happens after that."

"Then I choose to go with Mr McLeod."

"Well, that's settled," Nash smiled. "Thank you Lisa and please record her comment of acceptance Tom and record who heard her declaration and send them copies of your account of proceedings here and my undertakings." 

"Jake, you stay away from your home for the next hour because I don't want you there when Lisa, her mother and I are packing her things into my Jeep. I have a live-in housekeeper, Mrs Young, wife of my foreman Gary Young and a resident cook, Mrs Stewart, whose husband Lance bases his farm accountancy business in my home where he also acts as my accountant and business manager. Those two women will be paid a fee and charged to be Lisa's mentor and companion." 

"Should Lisa ever request to join me in bed then that's her business and I'd have to give serious thought to such a request. Lisa's parents may visit her and lunch with her on any Sunday we are in residence, providing they give either Mrs Young or Mrs Stewart at least two hours' prior notice and representatives of any welfare group interested in visiting Lisa should contact either of her mentors and arrange a visit. Lisa will be placed under the care of Doc Hobson." 

"Now get the hell out of here Jake. Jessica you come with Lisa and me. Thank you everyone and Tom we'll home-kill a prime cattle beast at the weekend of which you will share generously in volunteering to so ably serve Lisa here today."

"Thanks Nash," Tom grinned. "I have Nancy make room in the fridge and in the freezer. Take to Nash kindly Lisa because beneath that hard exterior lurks a good guy. We've seen evidence of that here today."

Nash double-parked outside the most popular pub in town for a minute and went in.

"Hi guys."

The two bartenders and a few of the dozen patrons replied, the others just stared at Nash.

"Guys, let it be known that some asshole has made the Findlay's eldest daughter pregnant. He's not stood by her so I'm issuing a warning: he's dog tucker if I come within 400 yards of him."

Nash strode out and the silence in the bar was broken by an uproar.

Within a few hours four males left town in the wake of that threat, presumably never to return within Nash's lifetime.

* * *

Before leaving Jessica waving in their wake, Nash said she was welcome to visit the sheep station anytime she wished. She could arrange for Lisa to be brought into town to meet her but Nash would wish to remain within fifty paces in case Jake made an appearance.

Jessica looked at the craggy-faced lean guy of not quite six feet with powerful-looking shoulders and a steady stare with sometimes of glint in his brown eyes. Gray was just beginning to show in his thick matt of black hair.

"I know you'll look after Lisa well Nash. I am so sorry I was so weak. Please forgive me Lisa."

As mother and daughter hugged and kissed Nash said, "It's bastards like Jake who weaken women."

Jessica hugged him and whispered her thanks to Nash for giving Lisa a chance in life. Jessica then became the only second woman in town to whom Nash had ever lifted his hat in deference.

As they set off, Lisa spoke for the only time during the 35-mile trip. 

"Thank you for what you have done for me. Please take me to my salvation Mr McLeod." 

She turned and went to sleep, now warmly dressed in her own winter clothes.

Noting his passenger was asleep Nash stopped and walking away for some distance pulled out his phone and called Molly Young. He explained Lisa's plight and that he'd taken her under his wing as he was legally entitled to do, having received Lisa's consent. 

"She appears to be well educated but is in low ebb. She's pregnant, only just showing I'd say. I would like you and Irene to take a close interest in her. Just so there's no misunderstanding, I have no intention of possessing the mistreated girl but should she ever proposition me then I'd have to think about that."

Molly laughed and said she and Irene would dearly love to have the company and to bring the poor darling back to full health. 

"I have seen the girl several times and spoken to her a couple of times. I was at school with Jessica. I believe the girl graduated from high school in the top stream and won several awards. You are, I'm sure, bringing a lovely-hearted lass to our household. I'll make her room ready."

Nash had expected Molly would come through for them but was pleased to hear her enthusiasm. He said they were twenty minutes from the homestead.

On the dirt track in from the highway and still a quarter-mile from the homestead, Nash pushed the red button on the dash of the Jeep and twin air-horns blasted out his arrival, stirring Lisa. 

They drove around the circle of driveway covered in crushed metal to inhibit dust and stopped in front of the two-level homestead, built eighty-one years ago by grandfather McLeod for the slip of a girl who by then was on her way from Scotland. She would marry the wealthy shepherd who'd inherited and sold his late father's home and woolen mill in Stirling, Scotland to Immigrate to anywhere in Australia and ended up in Adelaide. He then leaving for the hinterland to find a farm on land that wouldn't remind him of his homeland.

Big boned and auburn-haired Molly, aged fifty-five and the shapely and wide-mouthed blonde Irene, twenty-five, were on the steps awaiting Lisa's arrival. 

Nash was surprised by the thought that this must almost mirror the arrival of Duncan McLeod bringing Iona Stewart to the house all those years ago, only there would have been probably ten servants on the steps in those days.

Molly opened the far side door and swept the girl, still rubbing sleepy eyes, into her arms without effort and said, "Dear young lady, there's nothing to you, we will have to build you up. I'm..."

"Mrs Young, I recognize you. You know my mother."

* * *

Lisa remained in her bedroom suite for almost two and a half days before coming out for lunch unannounced just as Irene was prepared to take food on a tray to the bedroom.

"I'll join everyone for lunch," Lisa said sweetly and looked disappointed when Irene said only the three women would be in for lunch.

Molly who'd arrived in the kitchen caught that comment and heard Lisa's "Oh."

Molly said, "I wanted Mr McLeod to visit your room to chat with you but he refused, saying you would feel resentful at him pulling you away from your family. You have two younger sisters at high school don't you?"

"Yes, but I'm really not resentful Mrs Young. Mr McLeod was very brave standing up to my father like that."

"Call me Molly darling and you don't need to spare concern for Mr McLeod. He hasn't a clue about turning away from trouble and knows he thus has to take the consequences of his actions."

Irene smiled at their guest. "Are you scared of him?"

"I don't think so but I must say his eyes look scary when he's wound up."

"Despite what they all say he has a soft center," Molly said stoutly.

"What do they say about him?"

"All sorts of things but calling him a hard bastard is almost universal and that will do for now. Let's get meat on to some of your bones. You're disappointed he's not here, aren't you?"

Now seated at the kitchen table Lisa looked at the tablecloth and almost whispered to the older of the two women, "Yes."

Molly said Mr McLeod was a busy man running a big business. 

Lisa asked how could farming be big business. 

"I asked exactly that when I came here as a new bride," Irene said. "Although the property is called a sheep station because it's a mega-size farm of 247,000 acres of mainly quite fertile land and usually sufficient water, the 30,000 sheep plus new season's lambs are not all it carries. We also run beef cattle and deer and grow pines as farm forestry in the rougher patches."

Lisa thought about that, chewing meat from a hogget chop. "How big is big?"

"Exactly what I asked," Irene smiled. "Those 247,000 acres equate to 230 square miles."

"Ohmigod, that's huge and must be really big business."

Irene laughed and said, "When we buy in 400 Hereford and Angus yearlings that's six truck and trailer unit trips and nine or ten truck-units, depending on stock condition, when they are shipped out for finishing down on the lowlands prior to slaughter."

"Ohmigod and so how many truckloads to ship out say 20,000 grown-up sheep?"

"That would take perhaps forty truck-unit trips for shorn ewes but we never have that many culls at any one time. Big business, huh? One of my extra jobs is to book road transport, so that's how I know. I'd be bored out of my mind if I only cooked and managed the kitchen had it not been for my involvement in mustering, shearing and drenching times."

"Lazy old me, I just manage house running and read fashion magazines," Molly said, pretending to yawn.

Irene said Molly also did the gardening with a little help from the men, prepared the quarters for the shearers and cleaned up after they left and co-coordinated farm workers by radio and orders in supplies, rushed out for emergency supplies, greeted the vets and livestock agents and generally kicked ass. 

"Men find it difficult to get out of bed in the mornings," Molly sighed.

Irene whispered to Lisa, "It's because they watch TV or DVDs until late and then want to play with themselves when they wake up."

"Hush Irene, she's young."

"But Molly, I'm pregnant so I must know something but obviously not quite enough."

They laughed and Lisa said the house must liven up when Mr McLeod was about.

"Yes, absolutely," Molly said. "You appear to be a quick learner. He'll be pleased to see you up and about but darling, just call him Nash. Everyone does. I want you to have a bath and out of it by 5:45 and then Irene and I will do your hair so you look pretty when he arrives. He hasn't had a good look at you yet by all accounts."

"W-what will he do with me?"

"Oh God, nothing, don't even think like that," Molly said, embarrassed. "He has Widow Green down on the flats for that. He'd only consider touching you if invited."

"A widow, then she's old?"

"Well, many widows are. Jane Green is only thirty-three and runs the country store at the cross roads where there's only the store, a gas station and a 'just about everything store' that sells ice cream, snack food and burgers, videos and DVDs. You'll meet her. Her husband was a helicopter pilot."

"And crashed?"

"Yep, lived for four hours after being admitted to hospital. Shattered bones, severe head injuries got him. Just happened to fly into power lines in a gully on two farms away from here. He knew they were there but just forgot or was blinded by a sun-strike. We'll never know."

Lisa sighed, "Oh living in the country sounds so dangerous and unforgiving."

"Fuck the towns and city," Irene said, earning a soft reprimand from Molly.

"What uncouth Irene really means dear one tends to be heavily compensated for foregoing urban living although I must say not everyone is suited."

"Will I be suited Molly?"

"My instinct says yes."

Lisa seemed to like that reply. "What time does the boss come in?"

Molly looked surprised and Irene asked Lisa had Nash told her to call him that.

"No, we've scarcely talked. I supposed he'd told you how he rescued me?"

Molly said he'd mentioned it briefly.

"Well I thought if his operation was big business, staff would call him the boss."

"They do darling, but I'm housekeeper, Irene is cook and dog's body, her husband Lance is a farm accountant and lives here in the house with her as do I and my husband Gary who is foreman. The farmhands are farmhands... nobody around here is called staff and the word would be foreign to most of them. Gary and Nash will be in anytime from 6:00 to 9:00. They will radio us a couple of hours in advance so we have a meal waiting for them.


Nash McLeod, Hard to Figure



"Radio, why not buy mobile phones, they're cool?"

"Darling," Irene said, "where our guys mostly go mobiles would be a heap of crap, useless. But we do have cell phone connection to the woolshed and the nearest cattle yards but only radio contact to the other two cattle yards and the deer facility."

"Facility?"

"Deer are skittish, hard to handle until in near darkness."

"Oh, I see. You have a deer barn with yards leading into it."

Irene expressed surprise. "Yes, have you been here before?"

"No, I just pictured it. I couldn't see it working any other way just as I can imagine Molly wants me to look pretty for when Nash arrives home, otherwise he'll cull me."

Molly was shocked. "He wouldn't do that darling, he's not like that with people."

"Perhaps, but I have no wish to take the chance."

"Oh we'll make you pretty darling," Irene said kindly. "I'll need you out of the bath by 5:20."

Looking at Lisa's fingernails and scowling at what she saw, Molly said, "Irene was a beautician at the time Lance saw her in the city, followed her to where she worked and one day asked her to lunch and began courting her. Irene is Lance's second wife."

"Was the first wife gored by a bull or fell over a bluff?"

"No darling," Irene said softly, entering the room. "Mary was just unlucky, cancer."

"Oh that's so sad," Lisa sniffed. "I'm glad you told me that otherwise I may have put my foot in it. Rural life is so cruel."

"Mary and Gary lived in the city darling. Within six weeks of meeting, Gary and I fled the city because he was haunted by Mary's death and it affected our happiness but we came out of that."

Lisa touched Irene on the arm gently and said perhaps one day Irene might write a book about it.

"I've thought about it, but not now."

"Are you taking notes of thoughts, memories and mental images?"

"Yes."

"Good girl."

As Lisa bent over to scrape her plate clean apart from the two bones Irene and Molly exchanged yet another surprised glance and smiled at one another.

* * *

Irene came into the TV lounge and almost gasped at the beauty of her handwork, watching Lisa look up from the screen. "You are so beautiful darling."

"I'm only what you created."

"Poof, you are a natural beauty. There are women who act if they are and those who don't even know it but are."

"Thank you Irene, that was a sweet thing to say to try to boost my confidence. I will admit to being attractive when it's appropriate to rise to the occasion."

Irene said Lisa so honest and knowledgeable. "I just want you to make a good impression on the men as you are now part of the extended family."

"Me?" Lisa said, mouth agape. Struggling against emotion she said, "Who says?"

"Molly says. You'll learn there's another boss on this property and that means someone who rules out to the fence that surrounds the homestead, but enough of that. Gary just called and said they'll be here at 7:00. He's so eager to meet you and thrilled you are pregnant. He's thirty-four and wants me pregnant. He and Mary were childless but tests indicate there was no problem with Gary. Perhaps you could give me some tips."

"Sorry I had my eyes closed most of the time."

Irene laughed and said that was a funny way to experience the joys of sex.

"Four guys, four times over a month."

"Ohmigod, you were packed raped."

"Irene I make no such claim. My mother called the police when she discovered my bruising and I was bleeding from that last occasion. Everyone tried to have me admit it was rape and who the guy was. I almost admitted the truth when the police attempted to say it was daddy but laid off him when it was proven he was down the mine during the time of that fourth occasion."

"Ohmigod."

"Leave it Irene."

"I'm telling Nash. He'll drag the names out of you and then go after them, hunting them down like crazed dogs."

"I said leave it Irene. If you mention this to anyone and I find out, I'm out of here and you'll never see me again and you better believe that."

"But I want you to stay," Irene said, sobbing. "You are not too far from my age, I want the company of a younger person."

"Oh dear," Molly said, walking into the paneled room and wearing a lovely black dress. "What have you said to Irene to upset her so Lisa?"

Sobbing, Irene lied, "She was letting me how she was sitting on wet concrete in the town, feeling abandoned, teeth chattering, wondering if she was about to die from the cold and in despair that she'd never birth her darling little baby."

"Oh you poor child," Molly said, close to tears and hugging upset Irene. "But just at that point the boss strode over to rescue you?"

"Yes, the boss probably saved my life," Lisa said gravely. "I was on the verge of passing out."

"That man is such a hero but claims not credit. Half the people have no idea of his deeds, not even Widow Green."

"Widow Green, how does she come into this?" Irene asked.

"Oh shit, I promised to say nothing and only a handful of people know," Molly said. Well, please keep this to yourselves. Although it was a violent impact when the helicopter hit the power lines they held because of the long stretch across the valley absorbed the shock, acting like a spring. The cabin was left hanging half caught on only one line and somehow the pilot escaped electrocution in the initial impact when the blades sheered off. It would have taken hours for the authorities to arrive, get the power switched off and the rescue apparatus to the site and in place. Nash climbed the tower holding the lines, threw one of the ropes the farmer had on his truck over one of the lines and carrying the other two ropes slid over the bluff, almost two hundred feet above the river flats below until the rope above him was stopped by what was left of the chopper." 

The other two females were now wide-eyed.

"Nash coped with the violent thrust forward and after catching his breath hauled himself up and tied one rope to the cabin and tossed that rope over the power line with the free end falling to the ground. He then tied another rope to the cabin and dropped that that rope end to the men waiting some sixty feet below where the lines were dipped almost at their lowest. A rope was attached to the winch wire on the front of the truck and someone tied the other rope to Nash's Jeep and it was driven forward until freeing what was left of the chopper and it was lowered to the ground, looped over the electricity wire that fortunately held." 

"As the lowering rope was slowly winched past him Nash reached out and took hold of it above the cabin and calmly let his own rope go and was lowered safely to the ground. His own rope was found later to have almost been worn through in his descent careering down the wire. They treated the pilot the best they could but it didn't look good for him."

"All the guys are pals and at Nash's behest, had a memory lapse when the accident investigation team arrived and wanted to know who was the person who'd attached the ropes to the chopper cabin and how had he managed such a feat. The guys were threatened with legal action but argued what difference would a name make?"

"They refusal to cooperate with the authorities and the media began commenting about the mysterious unsung hero and the Coroner accepted that explanation, ruling that lack of the mystery man identity had no material significance on the accident investigation. We, I mean the guys of course were really cut up when told the pilot had died."

"What a remarkable feat," Irene breathed. "I'll not tell anyone."

"Nor I, nothing will pass my lips," Lisa promised.

"You said we," Irene challenged. "Molly you were there and it was probably you driving the Jeep."

"Oh that's colorful imagination," Molly said, leaving the room, calling she'd forgotten to put on perfume. 

"I noticed perfume on her," Lisa said. 

"Me too," Irene agreed. "Doesn't anyone around here reveal the truth? Now here's a secret, Molly would have a fit if she knew. There's a rumor in the district that Widow Green recently had a pregnancy scare."

"The boss?"

"It's unlikely he'd allow anyone else to plow the same paddock."

Irene and Lisa held themselves to stop falling over at Irene's last comment. 

Irene kissed her new friend and said Lisa had been so tough in not revealing the name of the guys who had pack sex with her. But had she done so she'd have made it worse for herself with finger-pointing, probable threats and enduring the lengthy Court process.

"I think Molly already has decided I'm tough. It's great having you two guys on my side," Lisa said. "Go get dressed for your man and don't forget the perfume."

CHAPTER 2

The boss and Gary and then Lance who'd driven up behind them, stood just inside the huge country kitchen gawking at the three groomed women lining up in front of them to be appreciated.

Kissing and then standing with an arm around her husband, Molly said, "Gary, this is our new family member Lisa."

"Hi Lisa. Welcome to Pihama Station. You are so pretty. My understanding was the boss had brought home a waif."

"Better a waif I think than a frozen body Mr Young." 

They all laughed.

Linked by their arms, Irene said proudly, "Lisa, this is Lance, my husband who as usual forget to call saying he'd be home late.

"Welcome to Pihama Lisa. We all will make your stay here as pleasurable as possible." 

"Thank you for your warm welcome Mr Stewart. Irene told me discreetly you were a little older than her but forget to add you were also rather handsome."

"Oh, she's still in the process of learning many things about me Lisa."

"Yes, welcome to Pihama," the boss said, striding up and hugging her. "There's been a magical change, you are quite beautiful."

"I'll accept attractive but not beautiful Nash. Did you like my perfume? It's one of Molly's. She did my fingernails and Irene created a miracle by making these curls out of my stringy hair. They have been so lovely to me. I have been asked to request you gentlemen hurry off to shower and change into formal clothing and to join the ladies for pre-dinner drinks. Oh, and also to say when dressed like this it is reasonable to expect to be called ladies." 

"Come on you smelly lot, a shower and a good soaping," Nash said. "Do what the young lady says."

After they trooped out Molly said to Lisa as they entered the passage, "He couldn't keep his eyes off you."

"Who?"

"The boss."

"Oh him. I rather fancy Lance."

"Ooh you brat, I'll have to keep one eye on you," Irene smiled, taking Lisa by one arm and snaking Molly's in the other and they walked through the double doors to the second wood-paneled lounge, originally built as a smoking room. "Whisky everyone?"

"No alcohol for me Irene. I have to look after the baby."

"Oh God, how could I be so forgetful and tempt you like the Devil?"

"It's water off a duck's back Irene. I've yet to start drinking alcohol. Come on smile it's okay. There, that's better."

"Right my girl," Molly said with authority in her voice. "We have been rather casual about your condition. Rule One, you are not to ride in any vehicle whatsoever beyond the woolshed because the tracks are rutted and you risk being heavily jolted. If you want to see anything of the farm you walk."

"What about riding out?"

"Can you ride a horse?"

"Yes. I began riding as a four-year old."

"Rule Two is if you ride a horse it may only be Silver and Rule Three is you are never to ride any faster than a walk while carrying baby."

"Rule Four is no Alcohol and Rule Five is no letting your hair down at wild parties. Some parties we go to have bouncy type dancing. That's all for the moment. Oh, Rule Six, you are prohibited from stretching up to peg anything to the clothes line or to remove anything from the clothes line."

"Have you had babies Molly? You seem to know a lot of theory."

"Yes, I have three children and two miscarriages between them. No way will I allow you to miscarry. Do you understand?"

"Yes Molly."

The tension went from the air and Irene handed out the drinks, sparking mineral water for Lisa.

"Molly?"

"Yes Lisa?"

"That was your kick-ass voice, wasn't it?"

"Yes dear, sorry use it so early on you but I thought it necessary."

"You sounded awesome Molly, I almost crapped myself."

Molly managed to stifle her laugh before saying, "Lisa, please remember we are ladies tonight. Please don't encourage Irene." Irene was smothering her laughter with a hand.

The phone went and Molly answered. She went to the door and yelled, "Nash, Matilda Green on the phone."

"I'll take it here in the bedroom."

"Is Matilda..."

"Yes honey," Molly said to Lisa. "We never call her Widow Green to her face."

Nash picked up the bedroom phone. "Hi Matti, I'm just out of the shower."

"Oh Nash, should you be talking like that to me?"

"I'd like to shower with you sometime Matti."

"Hush you randy man. My nephew has come to stay with me. He's graduated and is having a year off and spending some of that time visiting relatives. I timed my call to when I thought you would be coming in. I invite you to dinner with us."

"Oh Matti. I have taken in a young waif who is pregnant and this is the first dinner with all of us tonight. I'm sorry but it is to be quite an event. Look, just a moment..."

He rushed off throwing a towel around himself and skirting the second lounge found Irene in the kitchen. "Is there enough chow for Matilda and her young nephew? I haven't invited her but would like to."

"Yes, sure boss. I've cooked more than enough for seconds for you greedy guys."

"You're a darling. I'd like Lisa to meet Matti, er Matilda who'd called to invite me to dinner."

"I agreed. It's best they come here. I'll tell the others dinner's on hold."

Nash returned to the phone. "Hi again. We have plenty of chow here. You two come as soon as you can."

Sheep and cattle dogs in their two rows of double stacked kennels barked the arrival of the guests before anyone in the house heard the approaching vehicle.

The people in the house went to the sunroom where the two dinner guests entered.

Lisa scarcely noticed Harris Raymond when being introduced to him. She had been expecting Mrs Green to be really beautiful with a dynamic figure because the boss appeared to be interested in her. But she was disappointed.

Mrs Green was lean, just like the boss, and had breast-like bumps and her only make-up was lipstick. She wore no nail polish, her long brown hair was in a ponytail and she wore R M Williams work-style clothing: a pink yulara shirt, moleskin trousers and elastic sided boots. Lisa supposed she'd been expecting Mrs Green to be in high heels and wearing a cocktail dress. Then to cap it off as the other folk were gathered around talking Mrs Green her nephew came up and said to Lisa, "Are you sure you're pregnant? Some girls I know and who are not pregnant have a fatter belly than you do."

"Are you a loser?"

"Pardon me Lisa?"

"Don't you know how to talk to a female?"

"Sorry, what did I do wrong?"

Lisa sighed. "You made a highly personal comment to me without any preamble."

"Um you are young and I thought you wouldn't want buttering up. If you must know I was going to say great tits but thought you might think that was inappropriate on our first meeting."

"Our first meeting?"

Harris frowned. "Well there are few young people in town and none on this station according to my aunt. I thought we could knock around a bit even though you cannot have sex."

"Oh thank you. And who said I can't have sex?"

Harris turned very red. "I... I...just assumed. You know, what with this pregnancy stuff."

Lisa shook her head. "Go get yourself a drink Harris and come back when you're more mature."

"Now, now. Are things not going too well here?" Mrs Green said, coming up and kissing Lisa and saying, "God your skin in great and your hair is ever so stylish."

"Your skin in great and your hair is stylish," Harris said almost to himself and Mrs Green and Lisa stared at him.

Harris focused on them and said, "Oh, um may I get you ladies a drink?"

"A beer for me," Mrs Green said.

"Would you like soda water or lemonade Lisa?"

"Lemonade thank you Harris. Will Harris be staying with you long Mrs Green?"

"Oh darling, please call me Matilda. Harris doesn't know what his schedule is because he doesn't have one. I mentioned to him you'd just arrived here and you two might choose to spend some time together because most of the young people from around here are at university or moved away to find work."

"Well I guess we could."

"Just be careful if you two ever decide to have sex dear. He mustn't be rough."

"Sex?"

"Yes just because you're in the early stages of pregnancy doesn't mean you can't have sex but you'd be wise to carry condoms. Would you like to ride with me occasionally? I come up here usually on Sundays to ride. A quiet ride would be good exercise for you and I can always break off when I wish to gallop?"

Lisa said she'd like that very much.

From that evening a close friendship established between Lisa and Matilda. Harris and Lisa had difficulty communicating so never became friendly. Matilda proved to be one of the most charming persons Lisa had ever met and she could see what the boss saw in her: a woman with a great personality and a magnificent smile, that's apart from the physical attributes. Matilda's skin was olive, her hair was long and shiny and her body was taut and athletic. Whatever else would a man want? Lisa looked around for the boss, thinking he'd be following Matilda with his eyes. Her eyes locked with Nash's and she imagined she felt a power charge surge between them.

Lisa turned pink and wondered what the fuck was Nash looking at her in that manner; he had the scrumptious Matilda. In comparison she was a pale, non-performing and half-scared pregnant young adult lurching from one disaster to another in her life.

But then Lisa knew little about men.

Nash turned away wondering what the hell was that. He'd been staring at Lisa and when she looked up felt almost as if a power current flared between them. He turned away thinking life was not all about sex. Matilda was attempting to get her hooks into him but that was out of fear no one else would come along. She was so predictable in bed and had a strong preference for an orderly life. Christ he was out here in wide open and sparsely-populated country for the enjoyment of living in near isolation gave one and his work gave him immeasurable satisfaction and, except in years of severe drought, enriched him beyond the monetary reward.

Unlike Matilda, Lisa really needed him. She had been practically abandoned by her family and also ignored by the guy who'd put one up her spout and his family and yet she had backbone. She resisted any gesture of kindness and accepted his patronage because for her there was no alternative. She was hard in mind and body and probably would fuck like a rattlesnake in bed. But she'd also ride a horse with him until she dropped, she'd defend him with her life, or so he imagined, and her idea of going to town would be for supplies, not to get beauty treatment and to talk to other women. Nash breathed she was his kind of woman but regrettably she was so young. Still he intended shafting her as soon as she was fully recovered after the birthing.

That night Lisa awoke screaming. Irene went running to her room and then got Molly out of bed. They worked on Lisa with cold compresses but the reality was around 2:00 Lisa miscarried. Molly was beside herself in grief and couldn't believe it when the whiteface and near exhausted Lisa patted her cheek and said weakly, "Don't fret Molly. Sometimes these things are meant to happen. I'll live-birth next time."

Lisa slipped off to sleep. Irene placed her arm around Molly and led her out to the kitchen where Gary and Lance were assisting the boss to empty a bottle of whisky.




Nash McLeod, Hard to Figure



Nash leapt to his feet, ashen. "Is Lisa deceased?"

Molly sobbed, "No but she's lost the fetus."

Irene said, "Lisa is a tough girl. She's exhausted and she's sleeping. She'll be up in the morning.

Irene was stunned to see the look of joy on the boss's face. She thought, Ohmigod he's in love with her, not with Mrs Green.

Molly said, "Nash it was a complete ejection. We'll need to seek medical consultation after daylight and Lisa must stay in bed for seventy-two hours. I'll forbid any heroics. We must guard again infection."

"All right. I'll call the Flying Doctor Service at 8:00," Nash said. "We all heard Molly, Lisa is to stay in bed for the next three days. That's an order."

Lisa awoke in the morning, feeling absolutely drained and despondent. But she smiled wanly when saw Nash sprawled in the lounge chair beside her bed. He must have been there half the night.

"Nash," she called softly.

There was a flash of moment and he was on his feet, blinking to become focused.

"Oh hi. You have my condolences and I'm really glad you've come through it well."

"I'll be fine. It was meant to happen."

He looked at his watch. "I'll be calling the Flying Doctor Service in forty-five minutes. You must stay in bed. No way am I, er are we, going to take risks with you."

"Yes doctor."

He grinned. "That's the spirit. You're staying on here Lisa, um that's your wish. I've become rather used to having you around already. You will be assigned to looking after the horses to earn your keep. I'm now off to call your parents with the news."

"That's fine but tell them I don't want them coming here to see me. I'll visit them when I'm fully recovered."

"Okay. Molly will be in shortly with stuff to build you up. She said you lost quite a bit of blood."

"Yeah, sorry about the mattress and bedding."

"Stuff that. I still have you and that's what really counts."

Three days later Lisa was allowed out of bed for two spells of two hours and the next day life for her was back to normal except the female doctor had advised her not to go near the horses until the following week. To fill in time Lisa asked Gary, the foreman, to give her a list of all twenty-four horses, their names, coloring, habits and idiosyncrasies and she began to commit all of that to memory. Gary couldn't believe how sharp she was, correcting him when he repeated himself or scolding him for not knowing anything about some of the horses apart from their names.

"Want me to name the horse that you ought to pick as your main string horse?"

"Let my guess, the bay gelding called Sandy."

"Why?"

"I recall you saying it's well trained, dependable and strong."

"Make Sandy your Number Two then. Your first horse should be Star."

"What the red eight-year old mare with white star and three white socks, only 14.6 hands high?"

"Yes and it's not because you are female. She is strong, quick-footed, bold and brave with good cow sense and that is important because we have 350 cattle on this property. Because you're a light she will carry you all day. What more could you ask?"

"Is she good-tempered and easy to catch?"

"Er no. But don't be disappointed because we don't have the perfect horse on this property."

"And no one has taken Sandy or Star because they bite and buck and won't jump and everything else you've failed to mention."

"Yeah, both buck a bit when being mounted and Star was born to jump and if you come off either of them they'll instantly head for home."

"Perhaps I should ask the boss for a Shetland pony."

Gary grinned. "Believe me both are good horses. You know if I put you wrong Molly would monster me."

Matilda called Lisa on Saturday night and said she was coming to go riding next morning at 9:00 and she'd love Lisa to accompany her. Lisa accepted the invitation.

Molly who'd heard the conversation said, "That doctor didn't want you going near horses till Monday."

"She said next week. The beginning of each new week is Sunday."

"Ah everyone, we have a Bush Lawyer in our midst. This Lisa of ours has a slippery mind."

"Don't be sour just because you were outwitted Molly."

"Why you little..."

"I know I only win once in a while against you but you ought to have the grace to accept it."

"Ohmigod. Correction guys. She's a smooth-talking big city lawyer."

Everyone laughed.

The boss rode out for two miles with Matilda and Lisa before diverting off to check out the bulls. He had three dogs with him.

Gary had caught Star for Lisa and rode her until she'd decided Gary was on the saddle to stay.

"Okay Lisa, let's see what you've got."

Lisa walked up boldly to Star and as the mare turned to eye her she grabbed the bridle and held it firmly. Star attempted unsuccessfully to pull her head away. She began backing off. Lisa went with her. Star gave up and when Lisa reached her other hand up Star took the piece of carrot and Lisa let go of the bridle and took the reins and mounted and was surprised to find it was a smallish saddle.

"The saddle?"

"It's Molly's. She said it's yours on long-term loan."

Lisa walked Star and then did a short trot, broke Star into a canter and jumped her over the oblong water trough, handling that effortlessly.

They then rode off.

Each day Lisa worked with the horses. All she had to do was to toss them some hay and check them out for any sign of sickness or injury and to roughly groom each one twice a week. But she also decided to exercise them and rode six of them each day using just a bridle. She had no trouble to stay on the frisky ones that included Sandy and Star. Star now knew her and after four to six bucks when being mounted now immediately calmed.

Eight weeks after the miscarriage and after the others had gone to bed Nash said to Lisa, "I'd like to show you more of the property. I have a share in a Cessna aircraft with the Mitchell brothers, so we can fly for around three hours or we can ride a loop starting Monday for four days seeing most of the good parts, taking a packhorse with camping gear."

"If I say let's ride will you sleep with me?"

"If that's what you want. The others will think that will be happening no matter what we decide or say."

"You are crafty Nash. You knew I'd pick the horses and you knew I'd ask for sex."

"Christ, Molly is right. You are a Bush Lawyer."

"But that doesn't answer my question."

"Well it's the only response you're getting."

Next afternoon when Molly and Irene were in their suites, probably dozing, Lisa called Matilda who said she was free to speak.

"Customers are rare here early afternoon."

Lisa was straight into it. "The boss wants to show me some of the property from horseback. We would be camping out but I won't go if you have objections."

"Oh darling, how sweet of you. Obviously Nash has not told you. When I came out that first Monday to go riding with you he told me I ought to dump him and look for a replacement husband."

"Well I suppose that makes sense."

"It was his way of saying he was dumping me darling and would be taking up with you."

"Christ then that's not very subtle was it?"

"No but we women know men are devious, rude bastards at times."

"But you'll come riding with me each Sunday won't you?"

"Yes of course. Nash pleaded with me strongly to continue doing that and to remain one of his friends. He also wants me to remain pals with you."

"But you'll resent me."

"No it's his decision to make this happen and not yours. You two haven't done it yet have you?"

"Not even come close. I'm surprised you didn't say he's too old for me."

"Well that's because I don't think you are. He's a tough old coot and will last well into his late seventies at least. By then you will have either left him or will have been long married to him and given him three or four children."

"H-how can you say that?"

"Some things don't have to be written to be understood. I just see it happening. It's one of those things that's meant to happen just like one day a guy will come into the store, take one look at me and will be smitten and do something about it. That's why I'm staying on here... I have no competition. Ah apart from you."

The two women when riding Sunday morning and when they returned they found a barbie [gas-fire cook-out] had been set up. Molly had invited Lisa's parents who were due in half an hour and Matilda accepted the invitation to stay. The two younger women went inside to tidy up.

When Lisa's parents arrived Jake caught the beer Nash tossed him from ten feet away and grunted something that could have been thanks.

"Gin or white wine Mrs Findlay?"

"Gin thank you Nash. Please call me Jessica."

Nash poured a gin on to ice and said to Jessica standing ten feet away, "Catch Jessica."

She yelled don't but he threw the glass. She stood firm and caught the glass that was empty of course.

"You're a good sport Jessica and have a good eye-hand-coordination," Nash grinned, walking over with the second gin he'd poured. "A glass is more difficult to catch one-handed than a can."

"But I hurt my fucking forefinger," Jessica laughed, her jowls wobbling.

Everyone laughed and they were surprised when Nash kissed the hurt finger and then kissed Jessica.

After lunch served on tables under umbrellas, Jake said, "They say in town you shoot stray dogs."

"And you believe that Jack?"

"Bloody oath Nash."

"Then why isn't it I haven't shot you?"

Jake roared in laughter, slapping his thigh and then opened another can of beer. "Let's see this reputed marksmanship of yours."

Molly and company expected Nash to refuse as normally he did. In fact none of them had ever seen Nash shoot.

Looking at the weather vane on the pump shed Lisa said, "Dad if Nash can hit that weather vane on the pump shed with one out of five shots will you try to be real friendly with Nash and treat mum more kindly?"

"Yeah of course."

Nash said, "If you mean that Jake I'll shoot."

Jake rubbed his chin looking at the vane. From where I'm sitting that's at least 400 yards away.

Nash looked at it, eyes narrowing, and said, "I'd say about 330 yards."

"Okay I promise not to stick a knife in your back and Jessica watch your mouth and I'll be a bit nicer to you. Is that good enough Nash?"

'Forget me, just be pleasant to your wife. You won't have many friends so treat Jessica as your best friend," Nash said, finishing his red wine and walking off.

He returned with an old Winchester.

"That's not a target rifle," Jake observed.

"No, it just happens to be my favorite. It was dad's hunting rifle and does anything for me within reason."

Nash stood in front of everyone and fired one shot.

Jake muttered, "Lucky shot," watching the vane spin and then lay over drunkenly. The others clapped.

"Well that's all you're getting. I only loaded for the one shot. I don't like shooting round people because I was trained to shoot to kill."

Jake eyed Nash but said nothing, picking up his beer.

It was the first time Matilda had met Jake and surprisingly they got alone fine, partly because Jake made an effort and began with saying to Matilda, "I used to know your late husband very well. We played in the same cricket team for at least five years. He was a great guy. You would have loved him."

"Ohmigod Jake, is this really you? I've been told you are a right bastard."

"I'm a shift foreman at the mine dear lady. Let the guys know you're a patsy and there's not way you can command respect and keep them in line and that's necessary to be a successful team leader underground."

"I guess it is Jake. You have clean fingernails for a miner."

He grinned. "Good spotting. Melissa cleaned and filed them last night saying I had to look my best here today."

Matilda giggled and Jake thumped her shoulder and said she was a really nice lady.

Later when the visitors had left Lisa asked Nash what horses should she saddle in the morning.

"None, we'll load our saddles and other stuff in my ute after dinner and then at dawn drive out to Middle Creek where we keep some horses to save time because that's almost twenty-seven miles out and as you know driving is much faster than riding. We'll have one packhorse carrying camping gear and another carrying food and fencing gear to repair any breaks in fences as we'll ride the boundary line. You'll still see plenty and there are a couple of high hills we'll divert to so that you get a good eyeful of what this property is about."

"Will I see Aboriginal people?"

"No."

"Snakes?

"Maybe."

"Kangaroos?"

"Yeah, far too many. Take a rifle and you can cull them."

"No thank you. I don't shoot roos. What about you?"

"Nah, I'm prepared to have them scoff my grass. But I shoot to kill dingoes."

Lisa said she could understand that because the wild dogs attacked young livestock and even lame cattle. "I might try shooting them but I might be scare of shooting a gun."

"What you've had sex but never shot a gun?"

"That's right."

"What kind of education have you had? There appears to be gaps in it?"

"God you are rude Nash. What was sex like with Matilda?"

Nash looked at her unsmiling. "Go wash your mouth out with soap you cheeky bitch."

"Ah, you can give it but can't take it."

He just grinned and messed up her hair.

"Don't forget condoms unless you wish to make me pregnant," she said, looking at him unsmilingly and then walked off. She imagined tough-guy Nash staring at her retreating back, resisting the impulse to either shoot her or give her an obscene gesture.

Well that was partly true. Nash was staring in her direction, not focusing on her butt, and thinking well, well, here's one bit of skirt now she was well and used to him who was not scared of him and probably knew how to manage him. He liked the thought at that.

Stopping to rest the horses after a 10-mile easy walk and heading to the boundary Lisa asked, "Are we going to have sex or not? You haven't even kissed me let alone touched me."

Nash drawled, "Don't be impatient. I'd say after we cared for the horses at the end of the day, eaten and are bedding down, that sounds about right to me."

"Are you sure you're going to have sex with me instead of rolling over dead tired?"

In his exasperating drawl, Nash said, "You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"

They resumed their ride and later Lisa pointed out a dingo walking away from them in the distance on the neighbor's property. Nash pulled his rifle out and not stopping his horse fired and Lisa saw dust spurt up on the left side of the dog. It wheeled to the right and Nash fired again. The dingo dropped and cart wheeled and lay lifeless, or what appeared to be lifeless.

Jeepers, she thought. He'd planted that first bullet to turn it side on to him to give him a better shot. She reminded herself not to abandoned Nash by running out on him.

"How did Joey know not to rear when you fired? Milly almost unseated me?"

Nash said, "My horse is part of me. It knows when feeling me draw my rifle to expect a big bang, perhaps more."

Although impressed Lisa thought what an asshole. Was there anything he didn't know or couldn't do?"

They stopped twice for Nash to tighten sagging wires that might allow cattle through and another time for him to replace a couple of cedar stays spacing the barbed wire between the posts set at 12-feet apart. That work of course gave the horses a breather.

They stopped early to camp for the night.

Lisa had imagined they'd eat tinned baked beans warmed on the smaller gas cooker and served with thick crusty bread. But no, Irene had packed them chicken-fried rice with bread buns in the pack marked 'Day One Dinner' and Nash came up grinning digging into the second layer with apple pie. He heated the chicken and rice in the aluminum foil and after the apple pie Lisa thought she'd had a restaurant quality meal and said so. Nash grinned, "Irene's only doing what she'd paid to do" and chuckled at Lisa's indignant outburst.

She was standing watching the final display of sunset when Nash came and stood beside her. Lisa put an arm round him and he crossed an arm over Lisa's.

"So this is it," he said gruffly. "Are you sure you want me to do it?"

Lisa cussed, broke away from his grip. Dropping to her knees she unzipped him and pulled out the hardening mass and sucked the end of it, delicately.

"Ho little lady, who taught you to do that and don't you know I'll be sweaty, not having had a bath because there ain't none out here?"

Lisa's mouth was now very full so she didn't attempt to answer. Nash's response was to place a hand on her hair and wheeze, "Jesus!"

He thought that word again when the young girl, on her back, took all of him up to the hilt and continued smiling at him. Later she sat over him and gave him the best cowgirl he'd ever had.

They yawned and she stopped him rolling away from her by cuddling him.

"So you want me pregnant" You didn't wear a rubber."

"Your mom told me that if it works as nature intended you won't be able to get pregnant for another few months. If you do I'll marry you, okay?"

"My mother told you that?"

"Yeah and I reckon she fancies me."

"Christ she's my mother."

"Oh, the little kid running around on heat before she came to me has some notion of morality does she?"

"Put a sock in it Nash or I'll whack some of your teeth down your throat."

He didn't answer but rocked in silent laughter and they went to sleep.

They arrived home on the fourth day just before sunset, leaving Lisa to wonder how the hell could he have timed that, not having a watch or a compass. Perhaps he'd know where they were by counting the fence posts. She realized, however, that Nash knew his almost 250,000 acres like the back of his hand, as they say, and she knew although they had been riding four days she'd only seen less that half of the property, that is viewing it from hills.

Lenny one of the boys took the horses and Nash told him to ride them out to Middle Creek the next day and return in his ute.

"You damage that ute or horse around in it Lenny and you're dog tucker."

"Yes boss," Lenny said wide-eyed.

CHAPTER 3

During breakfast on Tuesday Nash took a call and he looked grim-faced when he returned and said to Lisa, "That was your mom. There's been an accident at the mine, a rock fall, trapping the night shift. Then your father went down with a rescue team and they are trapped be a second fall."

Lisa turned white. "Take me to the mine Nash."

"The cops have cordoned off the site, only allowing miners and family through."

"They won't stop you Nash and you know it. Stop stalling. If dad dies he dies. My duty is to be there with mom."

They heard the bad news when they arrived at the mine. The second rock fall had taken out telephone communication.

Nash asked the supervisor in charge of surface operations, "What's happening?"

"We have sent a second rescue team down and they are working on the first fall. It is probably the first fall was pretty massive, occurring over the fault that we had concreted over and probably taken that out and that's why we lost phone line contact.

"We have two air hoses down airshafts to both sections but think they have missed the mark."

"How far is it down there."

"Only 200ft but it might as well be two miles. The airshafts are too narrow to get our beer-drinking guys down?"

"Will Lisa here slip through?"

The supervisor looked at Lisa and said she might.

Nash said, "Are you game to try Lisa?"

"Yes, I want dad out of there."

"Roger get someone to get olive oil, plenty of it, from the kitchen and keep everyone away from the where we're going. Get something to tie round under her shoulders and a crane with plenty of cable and the smallest hard hat you're got, oh and a pair of the smallest boots and a radio to hang round her neck. Oh and get strong tape."




Nash McLeod, Hard to Figure



Roger Waterman barked into his two-way radio.

Nash asked Lisa was she really prepared to attempt to get down the shaft.

"Yes, we have to get them all out. I won't be able to see if I do get down there."

"You'll have a light pack attached to your helmet. We'll tape the battery pace to your waist. Keep your clothes on. Well coat you in oil to help you slide if you hit the walls. Yell stop if you feel you are becoming trapped but it's a drilled shaft so the diameter ought to be the same all the way down."

"What do I so when I get down?"

"Dunno. Roger the engineer will brief you."

After a tense seven minutes Lisa radioed she was on the tunnel floor.

"Great Lisa. Let us retrieve the cable. Are you okay about that?"

"Yes."

"Then stand well clear and we'll lower proper lighting supplied by a generator up here. Don't be frightened by the noise. Then we'll lower two air hoses down. Are you breathing okay?"

"Yes."

"Well those guys trapped between airshafts might not be. When you have the improved lighting we'll lower you a stepladder. I then want you to climb right up the rock fall closest to you and up at the roof against the sidewall I want you to call out and if you hear voices just shout, help is on the way. We will lower thin aluminum tubing. You can then try to get that through to the guys you answered. You'll have to tell them where it's coming through. They'll pull that through and the line that goes through the tubing. You then tie the air hose to that line, tying it carefully, and they'll pull that through.

"What if no one answers?"

"Then you go back to the other rock fall and repeat the process."

"And what if no one answers?"

"Jesus Lisa."

"Sorry Roger. I can guess how you are feeling and I have no desire to spook you. Is there a chance I'll die down here."

"No way Lisa, don't even think about it."

"I'm fine Roger. Just don't lie to me again. Over and out."

Time seemed to crawl by.

"Lisa to Roger."

"Roger."

"I'm in contact with the night shift. Phil Smith says they were getting low on air."

"Great, you little beauty Lisa. Over and out."

"Roger, Phil has the tubing. That's almost four lengths so he says only 10ft of rock to get through, but it's jammed hard."

"Great, get the hose ready to be hauled through.

"Roger, Phil says air is reaching them. They can smell the sea in it. He's lying isn't he?"

"Yes Lisa, it's filtered air and very good for their health. Go down and repeat the process but tell Phil you are heading off to do that."

Ten minutes later, high up the ladder, Lisa called, "Hi, can anyone hear me?"

"Lisa what the hell are you doing? Get out of there."

"I'm here to help rescue you daddy. Report your situation."

Lisa found she had to get back to the airshaft to communicate clearly to Roger."

"Roger?"

"Yes Lisa."

"Daddy says the big fall must have trigger two further falls and they were caught between them. Clive Jenks is dead and two others have head wounds and two more broken legs. They are crammed between the two falls."

"Get air to them Lisa. Fill in details later."

"Roger, daddy and his crew have air."

"Okay they probably can hear our guys digging through to them. They are within fifty feet of the cage, which is good. We already have a mobile digger and compressors down at their level. How many pipe lengths did you have to push through.

"Six." 

"Fuck... or pardon me Lisa. We must assume we are in for the long haul. We'll send down wider diameter piping that I want you to get to the night shift if you can. When we can get water and skinny canisters of food to them and give you a light and extension from this generator as their lights will be exhausted by now unless turned off for emergency use. I want you to brief them but..."

"Be honest but saying nothing negative."

"Aye, good girl. Stand clear, here comes the wider tubing."

Lisa untied that and took it to where she'd begun her work.

"Phil."

"Hi baby. And the others?"

"One didn't make it, two have cracked heads and two have broken limbs. Don't ask me to tell you who the fatality is."

"But not your dad."

"No he sounds fine."

"Thank Christ for that. He's our top man and the company will work hard to free him and that will be good for us."

"Phil I have wider tuber to try to get though to you. The first section has a pointed end."

"Good pull the air hose back to you and get started. Oh, don't cut the line."

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"You wouldn't be down here doing this if you were honey. I was just assisting your thinking process. You won't be mine adapted."

"I have been down here twice a year since I was twelve. It's became a ritual between daddy and me. He brought me down on Sundays for an underground picnic and to show me process."

"Thank Christ for that."

Lisa got the thicker tubing two-thirds of the way through when for the third time it almost jammed. She went back and reported to Roger and he said to unscrew the pointer nose and he'd lower a much heavier nose that could be used to try to ram it though. "But if it's a solid piece of rock impeding progress then we are stuffed."

She brief Phil. He said to untie the air hose line and tie it in behind the heavy head. "I'll pull to give the ram greater momentum.

"No, that's your safely line."

"Just do it Lisa. The boys and me are hungry."

On the third attempt the line broke.

"Oh Phil!"

"No sweat Lisa. Screw on another length of tubing and then withdraw the tubing about three feet and then go take hold of that last section about one-third from the end and charge forward. Let go when you meet resistance otherwise you might harm yourself." 

Lisa thought no way would she let go because if she did it might nullify the shunt. She hurled forward and as she felt resistance grunted and threw all her weight behind the shove and felt it break through.

"Good girl Lisa. Where's our lunch?" Phil said laconically.

"Roger."

"Yes Lisa."

"The night shift boys are ready for lunch."

"God, marvelous Lisa. The press are beginning to arrive and TV is here and saying because of the nature of the rescue attempts this will be going out internationally."

"So what? That does nothing for these guys trapped down here."

"Spoken like a miner Lisa. Good girl. Coming down is a crate of water bottles and a ram. Load three bottles at a time, point the tops forward, but no more than three, and push them through with the ram. Then will come containers of hot beef stew and then buttered bread rolls. Don't hurry and push through everything three at a time. Ask do they require medical supplies and then get them to pull the air hose through."

The line pulling the air hose through.

"Phil called, "You have plenty of line. Pull the air hose back out. Tie it round the neck of one of the bottles and ram it through."

"Lisa to Roger. We are ready to put the air hose back on Phil's side."

"Good girl. I have reporters round me listening to this. They want your age."

"Eighteen. Over and out."

Phil confirmed the line had come through. He didn't require medical supplies but before Lisa pushed the emergency lighting through could she request toilet paper and towels.

When that was done Lisa called Roger.

"Hey you assholes. I've been down here working my butt off. Where's my beer and lunch?"

That comment of course was used in newspaper and in other media throughout Australia and circulated round the world.

While Lisa was eating her lunch she consented to headphones and attached microphone being lowered for a radio reporter for a live broadcast.

* * *

At 3:20 the rescue team working in from the cage broke though and the dead man and his inquired companions were evacuated. Jake then led the concerted effort to break through to get to Lisa and go on to the next rock face.

One TV cameraman and one newspaper photographer selected by lucky draw were allowed down when the cage returned to the mine level to film and photograph the rescue effort and were still there at 7:48 to capture the moment when Lisa climbed over and through a gap to be hugged by her father.

Lisa and the media were then escorted to the top of the shaft and the jostling media people crowded around her.

"What is it like to be hailed a heroine," asked a female TV journalist from Sydney.

"If you call me a heroine, what do you call that guy in dad's rescue team who gave his life for his comrades and those other guys brought up earlier who looked in pretty bad shape?"

For seven or eight seconds the media people were silenced and then the questions being flying.

White-faced and dusty, looking exhausted the 18-year old spoke with confidence and maturity, skills she must have acquired since being rescued herself by Nash MacLeod.

When the questions were becoming ridiculous, such as asking Lisa what tonnage was the mine producing and of what value and when would the second lot of trapped miners be brought to the surface, Nash strode in and pulled Lisa out and she was taken with her mother to wait with other families. Many of them hugged and said lovely things to Lisa.

The first of the released evening shift miners and followed by their near-exhausted rescuers began coming up at 11:40, none of them injured.

* * *

Lisa was treated as a heroine when she arrived home at Pihama Station and she really enjoyed that. Everyone had stayed up watching satellite TV and then the boss had called Irene to arrange a feast for everyone. Lisa and he were on their way home.

* * *

Media people began calling from overseas before daylight next morning and Nash said the police and mining officials would be calling her before too long to go to Adelaide to be interviewed as part of the official inquiry.

Still a bit bleary-eyed Lisa said at 7:00 when everyone was in the kitchen, "Irene could you please pack rations for seven days for the boss and I. He has more of the property to show me. I haven't seen any deer yet."

"Sure darling, anything for you."

"I was going to a sheep fair today," Nash complained.

"Just pack for one then Irene."

"No for two, I'll come with you," Molly said. "I'm not allowing you out there alone."

"Christ all right, I'll go," said the boss. "And we are going without radios. "If anyone calls wanting Lisa or me say we went out with packhorses this morning but you don't know in what direction."

They drove out to Middle Creek and saddled up with just the one packhorse and no fencing materials.

"No fencing materials?" Lisa asked disbelievingly.

"No this is a holiday for us. It's time I really got to know you."

* * *

A month later Nash McLeod married Lisa Findlay in the small Anglican Church in Respite Crossing. Lisa invited her family of course and some former school friends while Nash invited most people he knew reasonably well so only half of the 144 invited guests could get into the church but everyone was seated in the high school gymnasium for the wedding breakfast.

Nash hadn't been sure who to have as his best name because he really didn't have many friends. He couldn't decide between Lance and Gary and happily decided to accept Lisa's offer to fix it. Two weeks earlier Lisa had introduce mining engineer Roger Waterman to Matilda Green, having invited both to have afternoon tea with her at Mrs Brown's coffee and cake shop. As pre-arranged Mrs Brown called Lisa to have a look at some recipe books and later when Matilda asked where was Lisa, Mrs Brown said vaguely Lisa had left more than an hour ago.

Later that evening Mrs Brown saw the newly introduced couple going into Smith's Family Restaurant and called Lisa to report that sighting. So Lisa called on Roger for a favor. He said he'd do anything for her and without hesitation accepted the invitation to be best man at her wedding without.

"Who will be chief bridesmaid?"

"Matilda Green."

"Oh great. Matilda and I have been out together twice."

"Are you having sex with her?"

Roger colored and asked, "Isn't it a bit early in the relationship for that?"

"I wouldn't think so Roger. Matilda is a red-blooded woman and I know for a fact is keen on you and is keen to have you in bed with her."

"Gosh Lisa. Thanks for that."

Nash had proposed during that six-nights tour of the eastern sector of the station. When stopped on a hill and looking down at beef cows with calves, Lisa had said, "God I love this land."

"And I love you," Nash had drawled. "Marry me please."

"But I'm not pregnant?"

"Who's to say you won't be in four weeks?"

"What has four weeks to do with it?"

"The first Saturday from four weeks today will be out wedding day."

"Jesus," said Lisa. "Nash McLeod, you get off that horse and kiss me and really tell me you love me."

He climbed off and was walking behind his horse when Lisa dug her heels into Star and shot away, breaking into a gallop.

"Come back here you teasing bitch," Nash had yelled grinning and settled down, leaning low, to wear down Lisa and that brilliant Star of hers.

Lisa had to slow of course otherwise Nash would have never caught them or would have been forced to put a bullet into Star to stop her. But Lisa knew Nash liked horses better than people and never would have done that.

They went to Sydney for their honeymoon and spent the time gawking around at things they'd never seen before and taking the underground train for their first ride really scared them. Nash wanted to buy Lisa a diamond necklace and the price of one of those really scared them. Lisa pointed to a display of cheap beads being sold by a street vendor and said, "Buy me one of those darling. They have been reduced to five bucks."

"They are a steal lady," the vendor said truthfully, keep on the lookout for approaching cops.

"My new wife had been hoping for diamonds but I guess beads will do."

"Then what about this little beauty," said the shifty-eyed guy pulling out a gold necklace from a pocket. "I snatched er traded this last night. A hundred bucks."

"No way. That's a rip off."

"Pay the guy Nash. He looks hungry."

Back in Adelaide Lisa had the necklace valued. "I estimate its value between $25,000 to $35,000 but if you leave it with us I work on it and provide you with a registered valuation."

"No way you jerk, hand it back," Nash said.

"I resent your attitude," said the jeweler.

"Tough."

As they were leaving the highly reputable jewelry store Nash had the staff gasping when he said loudly, "That creep wanted us to leave your necklace so he could melt the gold off it and replace it with brass. Gold is valuable you know. I saw a ring in there that cost more than a leading pedigree Angus sire."

"Cities are full of robbers and muggers darling," Lisa said. "We are better off being back on the land. And safer too. Fancy that guy kidding us the necklace is worth more than twenty-five thousands bucks?"

"Perhaps if he had an honest face I might have been prepared to believe him," Nash said. "That guy who sold us the necklace looked more honest than that fat jeweler."

"Well a hundred bucks or ten hundred bucks it doesn't really matter darling. I just love it because you bought it for me on our honeymoon. Oh by the way, I may be pregnant."

THE END