Jo of the Outback

By Pauline Gallagher

Jo, outback stockhand, is introduced travelling alone in Mexico. On the way to a Mayan ruin, Jo returns in her dream to Wollingbar the cattle station she has left.Her boss sends her out to fix a broken-down bus. A beautiful Aboriginal woman stands out amongst the Japanese tourists. It is obvious to Jo that this woman is a lesbian. Jo tries her usual charm, but the woman is unwilling to be seduced, at least not right away. Donna, the Aboriginal woman, has a secret. When it is unveiled, Jo accompanies her on a journey through the Outback. Through Donna’s eyes and heart, the reader learns of the Dreamtime and the connectiveness of Aboriginals to the earth. It is a warm and touching love story that reveals the lives of two women from different cultures. Jo is a runaway kid who survives in the wild west town of Cober Pedy before she finds a home on an Outback cattle ranch. Donna escapes a dysfunctional family to become a teacher. On their journey to Aboriginal sites, each woman shares her life. They also share a passionate love that overcomes many obstacles. Donna requests that Jo travels outside of Australia as a way to examine and enrich her life. The setting for this story is the magnificence of the Outback and its incredible birds and animals. I fell in love with the Outback and I am sure my readers will too.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pauline Gallagher
• Release date: Apr 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311246691

Pauline Gallagher

I was born in Ireland, lived in England and Australia and finally settled down in Canada. I retired as an elementary and high school teacher and now I house and pet sit. This is our fourth year of pet sitting and the assignments have taken us to Britain, Europe, Tahiti, Australia and New Zealand. I always travel with my laptop. I blog children’s stories daily on http://childrenandteensstoriestomotivateandinspire.com-Some years ago I wrote several children’s stories without an artist.They were taken by Annex Press, Toronto to two publishing conferences in New York. They lost the contract, but stated my books were very publishable and not to ‘give up.’ One of my stories, “Mrs. Claus and the November Visit,” won in the Canadian Library Competition. It chooses short stories across Canada and publishes them in a yearly anthology called “Winners Circle.” Mine was the only children’s story selected.-Fast forward to 2016 and the opportunity to use images from the copyright free Public Domain site. Now, I have four stories ready to become ebooks by end of October, 2016.They are:--Mrs. Claus and the November Visit--Belinda’s Dandelion (about bullying)--Unicorns Come at Night (about the death of a pet)-- The Bouncing Blue Ball ( a fun story).The following stories are almost ready....--The Incredible Show and Tell Story---Difference Spring Breaks--Look Who is Helping Bo Beep Find Her Sheep--Ranger Jabauri and the Serengetti PlainPlease visit my daily blogged children’s site that also provides more details and short extracts from these books.Thank youPauline Gallagher

Book preview

Get down Aussie stockhand and ride me!

Jo glanced down on the naked body lying on a tartan blanket under the shade of a Eucalyptus tree. Donna lay with her hands under her head, smiling and forming kisses with her mouth.

I reckon I have time. Jo dismounted pulling off her t-shirt, shorts and underwear."

What? Jo looked at Donna who burst out laughing.

I'm not being ridden with those boots on!

Jo grinned and slid off the shiny Bloodstone boots and lowered herself onto her beautiful lover. Their bodies entwined. Jo looked into the dark and mysterious eyes and their kiss took them deeper and deeper into the world of passionate bliss. Mouths moved to nipples, hands grasped buttocks, and fingers slipped into welcoming caves of shuddering wetness.

Then, the banging sound! There it was again! Bang, bang, bang!

Signorita, it is time!

Jo turned her head in the direction of the knocking.

Signorita. You wake, si?

Si. Gracias.

Jo turned towards Donna. She let out a deep sigh when she discovered she was alone. She fumbled for her travel alarm clock knocking over an empty bottle of Johnny Walker.

It's your bloody fault, Donna, Jo said aloud, Sending me off to Mexican ruins on my own! I'll get my own back on you - revenge is sweet. Do you know that I'm sharing a room on this overnight tour with a twenty-seven year old Brit. You always said I could get any woman I wanted, well let's see.

The Aussie stockhand eased herself up from the bed, and gingerly placed her feet on the floor. A small stuffed koala had fallen on the floor and she clipped it onto her backpack.  Pulling back the blinds, she shielded her eyes from the bright Mexican sunshine. Perhaps, a shower would ease her hangover.

The tepid water cascaded over her lean and fit body.  She fumbled for the soap, realizing again that booze would not eradicate the images of Donna, the woman she loved. A woman who had captivated her mind and won her heart.

Nightmares continued to wake her, and more booze would follow. Months earlier, in a moment of passion she had promised to travel. Her lover had told her, ‘Jo, it will be such an education and an inward journey of self-discovery.’

Jo dried her muscular body and settled for a blue t-shirt emblazoned with Aboriginal dreamtime art. Donna had picked it out for her. Jo spoke out loud, You're wrong, luv, this travelling is just a frantic running away. The sooner I get back to Oz, the better.

Jo was what Aussies would term ‘a looker.’ She knew it, too. When husbands were away, Jo drove over to tackle odd jobs for them. Mrs. Henry had been the hardest woman to seduce; it took three tries!

Looking her best was important to Jo. As a matter of habit, she adjusted her Akubra, an Aussie cowboy hat worn by both sexes. ‘Hell, maybe getting laid might fix a broken heart,’ but she doubted that it would. She had the looks, a great body, and charm. Already a couple of women had approached her since her plane had landed three days ago in Mexico. Donna had told her she was seduction on big feet!

The elevator opened before her. Three males were crammed into it, their thickly applied deodorant and after-shave filled the small space. Mexico was a backpackers paradise, great beaches, cheap booze and strong marijuana. Sex was readily available as the bars closed and tourists stumbled out in pairs.

This morning backpackers were anxious to be on their way. When the elevator doors opened again, Jo frowned to see a checkout line had formed in front of one solitary worker. She dropped her backpack on the floor and walked over to a couple of vending machines. Armed with sandwiches, nuts and cold drinks, she was ready for the day.

Donna had toured Mexico and recommended the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza . Both women admired native cultures.

The checkout was slow. Jo pulled out a guidebook and began reading. She felt a hand touching her backpack. She swung around quickly, a survival tactic for anyone working in the outback, a land fraught with venomous snakes and deadly spiders.

Sorry, I had to feel your cute koala bear.

It’s a koala, not a bear.

Oh. You’re from Australia. A cowgirl?

Stock hand. corrected Jo. Americans have cowgirls.

Jo noticed the fake designer sunglasses and the green and white bandana that covered most of her purple hair.

Right. I’m Anna.

Anna-the-bandana, Jo quipped.

"That’s cute. Kurt and me are from Mobile, Alabama. I wanted to go to Australia, but Kurt said it was too expensive. He said the booze was cheaper in Mexico and we could get certain stuff cheap." She winked at Jo.

Kurt smiled and Jo noticed his glazed-over eyes.

The line moved, but not fast enough for Jo.

Anna spoke, I used to ride horses. Do you have a horse?

Jo closed her book and smiled warmly.

Matilda. She’s a beaut. Jo took out a picture from her wallet and Anna cooed at the beautiful animal

She’s a strong horse. Who is the woman in the picture? Anna inquired.

Donna.

A friend?

My lover.

You left without her? Why?

I’m smuggling Vegemite- much too risky for two people. Jo lowered her voice: I’m wanted by the police.

Kurt, she’s wanted by the police! Anna-the-bandana yelled with uncontrolled enthusiasm.

All eyes including those of the desk clerk looked her way.

You come next cowboy hat woman.

Jo realized that the worker was making motions for her to skip forward to the head of the queue. Bandana Girl dragged Kurt forward explaining that they were with the Aussie.

Passport. snapped the clerk. Your name?

Jo lowered her sunglasses and pointed at the passport in his hand.

Geez, last time I looked it was written right there.

Your name. I can put passport back.

Jo Harrington.

Josephine is woman’s name. Jo is man. Maybe you don’t know if you are man or woman? he smirked.

Jo watched as the clerk scanned the crowd for a response. There was none. He sneered at her appearance: the black hat, the tousled hair falling over her freckled brow, the penetrating and defiant eyes. He figured she must be 5ft 10 inches and it irked him to have to look up at her.

Take off your hat! he barked.

Is there a problem? Jo remained cool. Her experience with macho men in Aussie pubs had taught her well.

Take off that hat and sunglasses!

Jo complied.

So, you have a problem – with police?

I was making a joke with the American. I’m clean as a buzzard’s head when he pulls it out of the ass of a wild boar!

The Bandana cackled with delight.

The condescending man scrutinized Jo’s face, then slowly and deliberately studied each passport page.

Hurry up, Pedro, someone shouted. We’ve all got planes to catch.

Pedro turned to Jo and repeated the question.

You have a problem with the police?

Only with female officers that are slow getting out of their uniforms.

Good one! cheered the Bandana.

Pedro seemed to want a confrontation.

Cowboy, you look angry like bull.

Nah, Pedro. You’re just doing your job. I’ll write and tell the boss, ‘Pedro is Numero Uno!’

Jo tapped her head. And smart, too. Clever. Except for the loose kangaroos in the paddock. That’s your brain – sparse pickings there, like water in a desert.

Pedro looked confused.

Mate, you’re Numero Uno, like Brad Pitt!

Pedro smiled broadly.

Si, I look like Brad Pitt, but black hair.

With a face like a wombat’s hairy arse, Jo added.

The Bandana howled again, then said "Pedro, you are good looking. Now give her the bloody passport."

Yeah! Give her the fucking passport! another voice hollered.

It’s not siesta time, Pedro, groaned another.

Jo snatched the passport and threw a few bills on the counter.

Here, mate, drink some beer and puke in Technicolor. May your dong drop off before morning, and your tiny balls shrivel up in the heat!

The tourists who understood the slang laughed and gave her the thumbs up sign.

As Jo headed out, Kurt blocked her movements.   He whispered, We could negotiate a price for that Vegemite stuff.

Kurt, it’s a bean-curd paste for sandwiches. Aussie kids are raised on it!

Bandana Girl playfully punched Jo on the shoulder. You’re cool. Any chance you might stick around?

Jo shook her head. You’re bonza, mate! she said but then, seeing the girl’s puzzled look, she explained, It means you’re okay.

Chapter 2

Jo stepped out into the hot and dusty street, filled with speeding cars and bustling crowds. This was the sound of city life, not her kind of life. The sun was getting higher in the sky, but Jo was used to working in the blazing sun. It was all the unfamiliar noises that jarred her senses. In Jo’s world, the gentle lowing of cattle and the familiar winnowing of horses was comforting and calming. Australian air was perfumed with grasses and eucalyptus leaves. Here, in Mexico, the smell was of diesel fumes and garbage left on the sidewalks ready for pickup. Horns blared and loud music poured out of cars and sidewalk cafes. People banged into her on the crowded streets.

Jo scolded herself for letting the desk clerk get under her skin. This wasn’t the Outback that was for certain. She resolved once again to give travelling a chance. It could turn out to be interesting. She had to give travelling a chance. Wasn’t it by chance, by pure luck, that she had met Donna! If Donna had not been travelling, they would never have met!

No sooner than five minutes later, Jo turned a corner and stepped into a scene that calmed her tired mind instantly. She saw a beautiful park bordered with fine hotels. Under colorful umbrellas, the more affluent travelers sipped lattes and savored fancy pastries.

Just beyond this stretch of breakfast bliss, Jo spied her waiting tour bus.

The Mexicana Magic tour bus was parked outside a Merida five-star hotel. As Jo approached, she thought, Lucky buggers. Bet they didn’t have the tucker I had last night: chili beans and rice washed down with beer and cheap whiskey.

Jo advanced towards the bus driver.