AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It’s not finished yet.”
Albie unpacked some lunch and they ate a quick bite in the shade by the river. The water was cold but refreshing, wide and shallow enough for them to cross over. Their boots barely got wet in the stirrups as they rode through, and guessing the wild horses were long gone, they headed southeast through the hills and woodlands to the valley that would eventually bring them out to the road.
The valley was walled by steep, rocky outcrops, and it was probably part of the river system at some point, Albie’s father had once said. He couldn’t decide if this part of his land now looked bigger or smaller now that he’d grown up.
When he’d been a boy, it’d all looked so big, but he never really appreciated the size of it until now.
Until it was his.
Could he utilise this parcel of land as Percy had suggested?
The river, or creek—whatever they wanted to call it—certainly made it valuable. But the sheer cliffs that divided his property in two had made it unfathomable, too difficult. But he’d never considered running it as a separate property to the land they farmed up on the mountains.
Maybe he could ask his lawyer when they were in town. Maybe he could re-read the papers he’d signed after his father’s funeral.
Des snapped his fingers, and it caught their attention. He pointed then, and they all followed his line of sight to see what he was looking at...
And there through the woodlands, down on the next slope, was the mob of wild brumbies.
Des pointed to himself and Robert, then to the far west. “We’ll go round,” he whispered. Albie didn’t think the horses would hear, but Des clearly wasn’t taking any chances. Then he nodded to Percy and Albie. “Stay here. We’ll flush them out, and you block them. We’ll funnel them into the valley.”
Percy’s grin was contagious, and Albie nodded. “Be safe,” Albie said.
Des gave him a serious nod. “Be patient. It’s all about the timing. Rush them too soon and they’ll scatter.”
Albie and Percy watched in silence as Robert and Des back-tracked a little, then headed west as Des had said they would. They ambled slowly, as quietly as they could, and when they’d got around the herd, they broke into a gallop.
Robert cracked his whip, the sound biting the air and echoing off the cliffs. The mob startled, looked up, then turned as one and took off, heading straight toward Albie and Percy.
The sound of hooves thundered in time with Albie’s pulse.
“Stay here,” Albie said to Percy, taking Minnie out a little wider. Like their horses knew the chase was on again, both Minnie and Bandit stomped their hooves and pulled on their reins.
Albie’s heart was in his throat, and he saw Percy shift in his saddle a few times, eager to go.
Robert cracked his whip again, the sound biting the air once more, and the mob of brumbies changed direction like a flock of birds.
“Now!” Albie yelled, and he and Percy set off at a gallop, heading straight toward the mob.
Albie took out his whip, gripped the handle, and swung it wide and high, cracking the tip. The sound rang out like a shot, and the wild horses turned again, heading straight toward their only free path.
The funnel of the valley.
Just as Des had said.
Albie rode out wider as the four of them chased the herd into the valley. Des was on the opposite side, Robert and Percy at the rear.
Albie spared a glance back at Percy, concerned and hoping he was keeping up.
Percy’s grin told Albie all he needed to know.
And they continued to ride, herding them.
The stallion that led the brumbies tried to steer them off a time or two, but with a crack of a whip, they soon straightened up.
But Minnie was slowing up. She couldn’t keep galloping forever. And Albie noticed some of the smaller yearlings in the mob were slowing.
Des seemed to notice too. He took out his rope and rode high in his saddle, lassoing circles above his head. He went in close to the mob, their pace slowing a little, and he swung for the stallion.
