Beyond Frontier - 14. BF Chapter 14

“You never know, we may bump into each other again further up the road,” I said to them as I handed over the box of food and equipment, and after a round of hugs and hand-shakes, I returned to my camp and settled down for a good night’s sleep. I was up just before 5 am. There was just a slight tinge of daylight coming from the Eastern horizon as I quickly packed up my swag and folded up the awning.

Once all was packed, I grabbed a couple of apples to snack on till I could stop for a quick breakfast at the Roebuck Plain roadhouse, just an hour up the highway. When I arrived, the roadhouse had just opened for the day, and I ordered a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, and a cup of tea.

I also bought a round of ready-made sandwiches and a chocolate milk drink. And, no, it does not come from brown cows as some people believe, I said to myself. I chuckled quietly at my little joke and finished my breakfast.

After paying for my meal, I headed outside and almost straight away heard a soft whining sound. After a little bit of searching I found a red cloud kelpie pup looking very miserable. It was tied to a tree. I walked back inside and went straight to the counter. “That kelpie pup - why is it tied to that tree outside of the building?” I asked the waitress.

“So that’s where the howling came from all of last night. A lot of us didn’t get much sleep thanks to that mutt,” she replied in an annoyed manner.

“Would you mind if I take it with me? I could do with some company,” I asked her.

“Just take it, so we don’t have to put up with that noise. Someone has obviously dumped it here,” the lady said to me. Quickly I bought some steak and a small carton of milk and headed outside. When the pup saw me, it instantly started to wag its little tail.

“Hello little one, would you like to come on a journey with me?” I said to the pup, and it wagged its tail some more. I gave a little laugh as I untied the rope. I was about to bend down to pick it up, when I saw that it had walked around behind me and sat down.

“What a good little pup you are. I think I will call you Roebuck,” I said to the pup, as I walked to the vehicle, and the pup dutifully followed me. At the vehicle it sat down again, waiting for me to find my cereal bowl, which I half filled with milk. I placed it on the floor on the passenger side of the vehicle, then finding my plate, I put a small handful of meat on the plate and put it next to the bowl, before placing the remaining meat and milk into the fridge.

When I picked up the pup, I noticed that it was female, but I decided to keep the name that I had chosen. I placed her on the floor of the vehicle and carefully closed the door.

By the time I had walked around to the drivers’ side, all the meat and milk was gone, but I decided to wait till the next stop before giving her any more to avoid any accidents. Roebuck managed to scramble up onto the seat, and she lay down, resting her chin on my lap. She soon fell asleep, as we headed North-east to the next town of Fitzroy Crossing, which was nearly four hours away.

Almost an hour later, soon after passing the Derby turnoff, I pulled over to the side. I lifted Roebuck down to the ground, and she walked to the edge of the bushes and did her business, before returning to my side and wagging her tail again. Giving a little laugh, I lifted her back up onto the seat.

I retrieved some more meat and milk for her. She ate half of the meat and drank most of the milk before lying down again. Once I had everything packed away again, we set off once more and Roebuck placed her chin on my lap and went back to sleep, which made me smile.

Just before we drove into Fitzroy Crossing, I pulled over once more, and lifted Roebuck to the ground. Once again she walked to the edge of the bushes and did her business before returning to my side. Seeing that she had not touched any more of her food or drink, I lifted her back into the vehicle and we drove into town, stopping at a small supermarket, to buy some puppy biscuits and food, plus I managed to find a dog collar and a lead, and a twin dog bowl.

Once I had paid for everything, I asked the assistant if there was a vet in town. I was informed that the town had a visiting vet come every fortnight. Then she called over the PA for the manager to come to the front. Moments later a man came out and asked what was wrong.

I explained that I had picked up a stray pup, and that I would like to have her checked over by a vet. The manager informed me that the vet would visit that day and the next both towns of Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing, but the manager said he was not sure which town she would visit first. I was given the address where the vet usual does her work in town, and thanking them both, I headed to the vehicle. Roebuck was wagging her tail like mad when I returned, and so I made a point of trying not to leave her alone too long in future.

A few minutes later I carried Roebuck in my arms as I approached the door of the building. It opened suddenly and a lady with a mean looking bulldog exited. That meant the vet was indeed in. Half an hour later, Roebuck was wormed, vaccinated and microchipped, and given the all clear on her health, which I was pleased with.

I was told she was approximately 3 months old. I gave her some puppy biscuits as a treat for being such a good puppy, and I lifted her into the vehicle before we set off again for another three hours of travelling to the next town of Halls Creek.

By the time we arrived, I was exhausted from the long day of driving. I had stopped after two hours to let Roebuck to do her business, and again before we entered town. Once we were booked into the local caravan park for the night, Roebuck watched from the seat and open door with interest as I opened the awning and set up my swag. Then I let her down on the ground and she immediately climbed into my swag, curled up and went to sleep.

I placed her new dog bowl on the ground near the swag, and placed the last of the milk and meat in the bowl before heading to the nearby hotel, where I ordered a takeaway steak burger, and a cup of tea. I had to wait a good twenty minutes, before I received my order. I rushed back to the caravan park, worried that Roebuck would find me gone and that she would come looking for me. I was relieved to see that she had eaten some dinner and gone back to sleep.

Once I had sat down on the ground, I drank my tea and ate my meal, as I watched the pup sleep. Once I had eaten, I cleaned up and prepared for bed, trying not to disturb the pup too much as I climbed into the swag. With the sound of Roebuck sleeping next to me, I drifted off to sleep. I was woken up at dawn, by the sound of Roebuck whining and licking my face. I opened up the swag, and she hopped out, so as to go to the toilet. A few minutes later she returned, and curled up next to me, and went back to sleep.

I dozed for about another hour before getting out of bed. I put some biscuits and milk in the bowls for her, before heading to an early morning café, where I bought some breakfast, after which I headed back to the caravan park, where Roebuck was also having some breakfast. I packed up my swag, and stowed it away in the back of the vehicle, with Roebuck watching my every move.

“Toilet time,” I announced to Roebuck, and I was a little surprised when she moved to a tree not too far away and did her business before returning to the vehicle. I smiled as I bent down and patted her. “Such a clever girl,” I said before lifting her into the car. She scrambled up onto the seat. I topped up her food in the bowls and placed them on the floor below her, before closing the door and moving around to my seat.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the fuel service station, and I topped up the diesel fuel, and grabbed a few snacks for myself and another cup of tea, before we set off again, heading East on the Duncan Highway. It changed from sealed tar to gravel road after only 5 kilometres, which marked the start of a very long day ahead, stopping every 1 ½ hours to let Roebuck have a rest break, and a snack to eat, plus to let me stretch my legs.

As we approached the turn off from the Duncan Highway onto the Buntine Highway, I stopped and looked at the road map, and realised that it was just three kilometres to Nicholson Homestead. So, I turned north, and shortly after turned right into the main driveway of the station, slowing down as I approached the homestead buildings. Although it was just 3pm, I was exhausted and needed a good rest. I stopped the vehicle, told Roebuck to stay, and climbed out, to meet an approaching station worker.

“Can I help you?” the worker said to me.

“Yes, may I speak to the station owner or manager please?” I asked nicely.

“Sorry but the boss and family went up to Kununurra for a few days. Can I help?’ the station worker asked.

‘Well I have driven from Halls Creek today, and south of Broome, the day before. I just need a place to rest. I am fully self-sufficient, so all I ask is for a shady tree to park under, so I can set out my swag for me and my young pup,” I replied with a smile.

“Where are you heading to, mate?” I was asked. “Well for now, I have no set destination or timetable. I’m just going where the roads take me at the moment,” I answered.

“Man, I wish I could be able to do that. Come on over to the staff quarters. You can pitch your swag nearby, and use the facilities there, and bring your pup with you,” the station worker said to me.

“Thanks, bud. That is very much appreciated. The pups name is Roebuck, which is where I found her,” I replied.

I headed back to the vehicle and moved it over to a where the station worker was heading on foot. Once parked to one side of the staff quarters, near a shady tree, I picked up the pup and carried her out of the vehicle and placed her on the ground. Straight away she wandered to a tree a little further away to go to the toilet.

“Good girl, Roebuck. You are such a clever pup,” I said to her, as she came back, wagging her tail. I picked her up and lay her on her back and tickled her tummy, making her start a scratching motion with her back leg.

The station worker, James, showed me around the staff area, that consisted of a kitchen and dining room, a small lounge room, and a laundry down the passageway. A separate building at the back, had 4 bedrooms, with two bathrooms in the middle. “At the moment, there is just me and old Jim, the station mechanic. The boss had to fire the other two staff because they were often too drunk to do any work. That is why he is in town - to find some more workers,” James explained.

“I guess it is hard to find good station workers these days,” I remarked.

“Yes, you are spot on with that. So, what are your skills, Anton? Have you ever ridden a horse or done any farm work of any kind?” James replied.

“No and no, to those two questions. I am the complete opposite. I am a zoologist, amongst a few other things, so I spend time monitoring animals and their environments, and how human intervention affects their future,” I replied.

“Well that went in one ear and out another. Sorry. I have never been very good with science,” James replied, and I gave a small laugh.

“That is fine, mate, but if you let me stay for a few days, I wouldn’t mind learning a little about station life,” I responded.

“That is what I was hoping you would say, as life here is boring with just Jim around. Now do you have any suitable work clothes?” James said to me.

“Yes, jeans, long sleeve cotton shirts and steel cap work boots,” I answered.

“Excellent. Well, go and get changed, and both of you meet me over there at the stables,” James replied as he headed off in that direction. Back at my vehicle, I pulled out the awning, and pulled out my swag. Next, I grabbed my suitcase and quickly changed, and put on my work boots. I put some water in the bowl for Roebuck to take a drink, which she did, then picking her up, I grabbed my hat and walked over to the stables.

“Perfect. Now, I have saddled Bronco for you. She is a gentle horse and she won’t startle at sudden movements. I’ve but a blanket in front of the saddle for your pup to lay on. Pass her to me. Now facing the front of the horse, you need to be on her left side to mount up, and the same for dismounting. Have the reins in your right hand, and grab the pommel - that is the curvy bit at the front of the saddle - then put your left foot in the stirrup, and pull yourself up, swinging your right leg over the horse and saddle at the same time,” James instructed me.

I was quite surprised that I was actually sitting up on a horse for the very first time. I saw James attach a lead onto the leather bits around the horse’s face, then he handed me Roebuck. “Good you are doing very well so far. Now get the pup settled straddled over the blanket, and I will lead the horse for you, just starting with a slow walk,” James said, as he made a clicking sound with his tongue, and the horse moved forward.

“Sit up straight, with your toes pointing inwards, with a little bit of pressure with your knees into the horse’s neck,” James instructed. Suddenly the horse began to go a little faster. “This is called a slow trot, which is when you tend to bounce around a lot till you get into a rhythm. How do you feel?” James said to me.

“A little nervous, and Roebuck has snuggled up close to me,” I replied, as James slowed the horse down to a walk again.

“Well, that is pretty good for your first time, and you didn’t even fall off. I’m disappointed,” James said with a wicked grin.

Back at the stables, I handed Roebuck to James, who put her down, and we watched as she ran straight back to the vehicle. “Ok, dismounting is in reverse. Hang onto the pommel. You don’t need to hold onto the reins. Now lean forward and swing your right leg backwards and lower yourself down the left side of the horse,” James instructed. But that is not what happened. I came crashing down, landing heavily on my back.

James came rushing to my aid. “Are you alright? Did you injure yourself?” he said in a concerned tone. “Only my pride is crushed. I am fine,” I responded as I carefully stood up. I took a few deep breaths, and brushed the dirt off me.

“Well, we’ll stop there with the actual riding for today. Now just a few important terms you need to remember. I have mentioned a couple of them already - the saddle and pommel, the two stirrups, and the reins, which you use to direct the horse. This leather thing around the head is the halter, which is like two circles with three bits linking them together.