All Alone - 14. Alo Chapter 14

Just fifteen minutes later, we stepped out of the court room, with a court order for the bank holding the insurance pay-out, to freeze that full amount, until such time as a full repayment of part of the loan has been made as was requested, or a payment plan has been put into effect. “What is your fee for today’s work?” I asked, “um just $650 will be sufficient, since it was so fast” the lawyer replied, and much to his surprise, I handed over that amount to him in cash.

Let’s get you a receipt for that payment, then we will go to the bank to put the court order into place” the lawyer said, and after a quick stop at the office to get a receipt, the lawyer went into the bank, and I elected to stay outside, in case the bank manager recognised me, and the court order was presented to the bank manager, who asked the lawyer into his office. A few minutes later, after tapping away at the computer all that time, the bank manager looked up, and announced that the $2 million insurance pay-out, in the bank account, was now frozen as ordered by the Magistrates Court.

When the lawyer appeared outside again, he smiled to me and nodded his head, “all is done, they cannot touch the insurance money, until we have come up with a reasonable payment or payment plan, either way, they will have to stop their building projects” the lawyer said to me as we walked back towards his office, where I gave him my contact details, of mobile phone number and email address, before I thanked him and said goodbye.

After a quick snack, I climbed into my car and continued to drive south, with Kalbarri 450 km’s away, being my next stop, so I could collect Angus. I had called a motel in Kalbarri for an overnight stop, as I knew that it would be almost dark by the time I arrive there. I stopped a couple of times to stretch my legs, and one other time to refuel the vehicle, and I was exhausted by the time I finally arrived in Kalbarri.

After checking in, I went for a walk to stretch my legs a bit, before going to find somewhere to eat, about ten minutes later I heard a clear recognisable voice. “Slow down Angus, what has got you so stirred up, where are you taking me?” I heard Matt say, and I put my head down and finding a bench seat nearby I sat down and waited. A minute later Angus jumped up onto the bench and into my lap, and I patted him.

“I am terribly sorry Mr, my friend’s dog is missing his master very much, and…” Matt stopped speaking when I looked up and saw me smiling. “Boss, what are you doing here, wow this is great, how are you feeling?” Matt said to me, as he sat down and I continued to pat Angus, as he bounced around in my lap.

“You not wrong about him missing me, I am good now thanks, how are you and Greg?” I responded. “We are fine, but we do miss life on the station, it was good being there, especially the great beaches, sunsets and just the peace and quiet of station life, it’s too noisy here” Matt replied, and I chuckled at his last comment, as matt fished out his phone and dialled a number, “Come out to the park, there is a really hot dude, I want you to come and check-out” Matt said before hanging up, and grinning, which made me laugh.

“You are so cruel young man, don’t complain to me if he punches you for that” I responded. A few minutes later, as the light was fading, we saw Greg approaching, and he slowed down as he came closer, as I lowered my head, so it was hard to see my face. “Matt what is Angus doing on this guy’s lap, only…” Greg started to say till I looked up and smiled at him.

“Boss, oh wow, it’s great to see you again” Greg said, and he sat on the other side of me. “So, tell me how work is going here, are you enjoying it?” I asked the brothers. “It is alright I guess, not as good as working on the station, I just wish that bastard hadn’t spoiled it for all of us” Greg said.

“I know, it is sad that some people have to be bullies like that, but they have lost three very good station workers, I am sure they will be regretting letting it happen now” I responded.

“Do you think you will ever go back there?” Matt asked me, “I have already, to collect all of my things, I presume that it was you guys that did all the packing up for me?” I replied, “Yes, we did it when we decided that we didn’t want to stay and work there any more, after you left Nicholas still tried to order us around, and he continued to threaten us, if we ever spoke up about what really happened.

Once we had organised a new job, we ended up catching a lift with one of the builders back to Minilya, when he had to go back to the roadhouse at lunchtime one day, and we just had to wait a few hours for the bus to arrive at 4.30pm, and we arrived at the Kalbarri turnoff at 11.30 that night,” Greg explained.

“Did you get your wages for the month?” I asked, “Yes, lucky for us it arrived that same day that we left, so it was just two days of work that we missed out on, but we didn’t care about that, as long as we were off the station. “What are you going to do now, that you don’t have a job?” Matt asked me.

“Well I don’t really need to work much, I inherited a fair amount of money and property recently, and I can survive on that, I own the family farm, which is just south east of here, even though it is leased out, I could probably move back into the family home. I’m not really sure what else I will do just yet?” I replied. “I wish we could follow you, where ever you go, but…” Greg said quietly and sadly.

I didn’t say anything in reply, but quietly to myself, I wished that too, as they were awesome hard-working lads. “Come on you two let’s go and eat, my treat, where do you recommend, we go” I said to try and cheer them up, I wouldn’t mind some fish n chips please” Matt replied, and we were soon on our way to the nearby fish and chips shop for a good feed, which even Angus enjoyed too.

Half way through dinner, my phone rang, and I saw an unknown number, so I handed it to Matt, who understood why I didn’t want to answer it. “Yes sir, just a moment please” Matt said after listening to the caller, and he handed it to me, “it is Dave Henderson, the guy that leases the farm off you” he whispered as I accepted the phone back. “Hi Dave, sorry about the diversion, I have been having some troubles lately, so I had a friend answer the call, as it was an unknown number… no I didn’t because my phone was diverted to the stations’ sat phone up until a few days ago, now how can I help you” I said.

“Well it is a bit difficult to say this, but I was hoping that you maybe understanding. With all the work with rebuilding the fences after the cyclone, and loosing 78% of our crops also from the cyclone, we are not in a very good financial situation at the moment, and we are hoping that you will allow us to continue to lease your farm at a lower rate?” Dave asked.

“I think something can be arranged, I am in Kalbarri now, as I have left the station, can we meet at the Galena homestead tomorrow? I replied, “Yes fine, what time do you want to meet, I am free all morning” Dave replied.

“How is 11am, is that a good enough time?” I suggested, “Perfect, I will see you then, bye” Dave said, and we ended the call. “Well it looks like I may be able to move back to the farm after all, I am meeting with my neighbour tomorrow morning” I announced to the lads.

“Do you think we could resign and come along with you, it is our day off tomorrow, so they will have at least one day’s notice” Matt asked me, “How about I let you lads come along for the day, and I can bring you back to town in the evening, as I am not sure what will be happening, and it will take time to get organised if I do get the house and the farm back” I replied, “Ok, that would be great, thanks boss, err I mean Lloyd” Greg responded happily.

After calling into the lad’s room, to collect all of Angus’s belongings, I headed over to my motel room just down the road, giving Angus a chance to have a toilet break before we go in for the night, and after a quick shower, I headed to bed, where Angus was already happily snoozing. The next morning, I took Angus for a walk, before giving him some breakfast, and I went to the restaurant to have some breakfast.

When I returned to my room, Matt and Greg were there waiting for me, and I laughed. I haven’t packed up yet, and it is less than an hours’ drive to the farm” I explained as I opened the door, to be greeted by Angus pleased to see us.

Matt and Greg sat on the lounge with Angus, while I gathered my luggage, and loaded it into the vehicle, moving some stuff around, to make room for Angus and one of the lads on the back seat.

Once I had checked out of the motel, we went to the service station, to top up the fuel and grab snack for the lads, and we headed south east for the main highway, about 70 kilometres away, passing through the middle of Kalbarri National Park for most of the journey. We turned onto the small bitumen road, just as the clock reached 10.05 am.

“We are very early, I guess there’s time to show you around part of the property” I announced as I drove up the gravel road, and 4 kilometres later I turned left, and passed through the front gates of the homestead paddock. “Welcome to my childhood home” I announced as I slowed right down, stopping in front of the main house.

“Wow this looks great, a nice big old-fashioned homestead with wide verandas all around it” Matt said, as we climbed out of my vehicle. “I am not sure if anyone is staying in the cottage, so don’t go in there” I said to the lads, just as a familiar face appeared.

“It is ok Mr Templeton, I am staying in the cottage at the moment, so the house is empty, Mr Hamilton informed me yesterday of what changes will be happening, so I gave the main house a spring clean” the farm hand said to me. “Thank you, that is kind of you, I have to chat with your boss, so even I am not sure what is happening, just yet, but I will let you know” I responded, as I climbed the stairs to the house.

About twenty minutes later, after showing Matt and Greg around the 4-bedroom house and the large garden around it, which includes a swimming pool and tennis court, Dave arrived, and he and we went inside to the kitchen to chat, while the lads remained outside. “Your worker, he informed me that he is living in the cottage, is he working for you full time, I could feel that he was very uncertain about his employment with you at the moment” I said to Dave as we sat down at the kitchen table.

“He is the last one, and I am not sure how long I can keep him on for, as I am getting very low on finances at the moment, we had a fair amount of fence damage on my farm too, and not all of it was insured, we may have to sell up, if things get any worse” Dave replied.

“I see, well how about I let you off the lease fees, and I will take control of the main farm and we can share the farm hand, so it reduces the financial burden for you” I suggested, “Yes, that would be wonderful, I do appreciate your understanding with this” Dave replied.

“I also ask if I can have first option to purchase, if you do decide to sell up your property, and let me know when you cannot employ your farm hand, and I will give him a full time job, as long as he gets along with my other two staff members” I said, and just after I said that, I heard a vehicle roar off, and once the noise and gone, I heard crying happening. “Oh no, not again” I commented, as I stood up and headed for the front door, where I found Matt trying to comfort his younger brother.

Matt looked up and indicated towards the departing vehicle, and I turned around to face Dave who was right behind me, “I retract that last offers I made, if your farm hand is the cause of this, which I am fairly certain he is, then he is not welcome on this farm from now on, so he can pack up and get off my land” I said to Dave in a forceful manner, “Err, what is it that Pete has done?” Dave asked, a little shocked at my change of attitude.

“Your farm hand is a homophobic prick. That is what happened” Matt snapped at Dave, who took a few steps back, then he stormed past me and out the front door, nearly knocking Matt over, before getting in his vehicle and driving off. “You won’t be seeing the farm hand again, come on lets’ get in the vehicle and go into Northampton, I need to get a few things sorted” I said to the lads, as I picked up Angus, and carried him to the vehicle.

Once in town, I applied for a post office box, but learnt, that Dave had kept the one that was in the farm’s name for his use, so I left it at that for now, next I went to the police station, to let them know of my change of address, in regards to the future court case against Nicholas Dalworth.

Once I had done that, I contacted the family lawyer in Geraldton, to find out where all the family belongings are being stored away, which I learnt was in Geraldton, and let the lawyer know that I was returning to my childhood home.

Once this was done, we drove back to Kalbarri, so that the lads could return to work the next morning, and I decided to stay one more night there, so I checked into the same motel again, and was given the same room as before. Angus and I went for a walk along the beach andrelaxed in the park for the rest of the afternoon, and we didn’t see Matt or Greg for the rest of the day.

Just before I was about to head to the restaurant for dinner, my mobile rang, and it was a Coral Coast station Sat phone number, so I ignored it and turned off the phone, and headed in to have some dinner. Afterwards, I left my phone in the room on charge, while I took Angus for another long walk, before coming back, having a shower and retiring for the night early.