Shadows Across the Outback: Australian Short Stories

By Patricia Dunn

Summary of stories of Shadows Across the Outback. These stories depict 3 young women finding work on properties in outback Australia.

Samantha Hunter finds her true heritage when inheriting a small pub at Gidgee in Queensland.

Rebecca Hudson takes on the demanding tasks of becoming a Shearers Cook to prove she can survive on a busy isolated sheep station at Binalong.

Susan Thompson takes on the job of off-sider with her father, Thomo The Rabbit Trapper, hoping to lose weight to win the love a handsome station owners son, who unwittingly mistakes her for a young fellow looking for work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jun 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483657035

Patricia Dunn

PATRICIA DUNN'S writing has appeared in Salon.com, CSM, The Village Voice, The Nation, L.A. Weekly, and others. With an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College, where she also works as the Director of the Writing Institute, this Bronx-raised rebel and former resident of Cairo settled in Connecticut, with her husband, teenage son, and toddler dog. Visit Patricia at patriciadunnauthor.com.

Book preview

CONTENTS

BILLABONG WATERS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

SHEARER’S COOK

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

RABBIT TRAPPER’S DAUGHTER

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Shadows Across the Outback

Poem by Patricia Dunn

The last scarlet rays of the setting sun,

Send shadows across the outback,

Blazes of orange painting the sky,

Highlighting Boab trees, stark and black.

On drought stricken plains of the Kimberly,

Bizarre bottle shaped trees stay alive,

Aborigines know the secret they have,

Storing water so others survive.

All day the relentless desert sun,

Burns down on the outback plain,

Brilliant colours filling our senses,

Exposes the harsh Terrain.

A velvet grey sky, onset of night,

Fiery sunset glow,

Gnarled twisted branches reach for the sky,

Curling as they go.

With a closing farewell the twilight sun,

Slips behind boab trees, stark and black,

Enhancing all with a golden glow,

Stunning Shadows Across the Outback.

BILLABONG WATERS

CHAPTER ONE

The tiny township of Gidgee, situated one hundred and twenty miles north of Winton in Queensland, in the hill country, known as ‘Red Top Rock’. The remarkable ‘Jump Up’ Ranges appear higher than they actually are, due to the wide-open country and atmospheric conditions.

The surrounding endless black soil plains are dotted with small shrubby groves of various eucalypts; Mitchell grass covers the ground, which turns lush green after the summer rains.

It was early morning, not quite sun-up; the dark blue Land Rover cruised down the main street. As yet the street was deserted and this is exactly the way the young woman, Samantha Hunter, had planned her arrival. She’d left Red Mesa Downs station early hoping to view her uncle’s legacy without the nosy local’s knowledge. It was well known what small towns were like; any strange vehicle arriving would have the locals buzzing with gossip. At the moment, she did not need questions from perfect strangers.

With a sigh of relief, she saw what she was looking for and pulled the Cruiser over. There it was; a small quaint corner pub. A hand painted sign stated—BILLABONG WATERS.

Samantha alighted from the vehicle stretching her tall lanky figure. Looking around she could see it was a ramshackle town; the streets lined with various old fashioned buildings. In the dim morning light it was obvious they were all in the process of being renovated.

After hearing of her inheritance, she’d studied all the tourist information about the history of the small town. It dated back a hundred years, when it was a booming mining town; boasting several gold mines and a couple of opal digs. The old town had lay sleeping in the sun for decades; but of recent years the tourist trade had picked up, overseas visitors eager to learn and become involved in Australia’s colourful past history.

The few locals, some of them descendants from the original settlers were hoping to reap some benefits from passing trade. Gidgee was on the main route to the big mining towns further north.

Samantha had no idea of the population, or what type of people they were; and the thought of owning a small pub was daunting to her. Her mind was filled with mixed emotions, wondering what lay ahead. On first hearing the news she wondered to herself what on earth was she going to do with a run down pub in a tiny bush town?

Maybe her Uncle Jack had an ulterior motive!

Samantha opened the glove box; retrieving the key given to her by the solicitor and alighting from her vehicle, approached the old-fashioned ornate door.

It was unusual; iron studs embedded in the wood, shaped in the form of an old Roman cross. Her heart was thumping in her chest, her hands trembling; a myriad of questions running through her mind. What lay behind the heavy door? Would she find answers to the questions that were locked away in her mind?

The key slotted in with ease. With a hefty shove, she pushed the door inwards. It was pitch black. A musty hops smell permeated her nostrils, not unpleasant, just enough to tickle her senses. A stale whiff of cigarette smoke hung in the air.

Momentarily, she paused on the threshold an odd sensation coming over her. There were sounds; soft whispers, men laughing, the clink of glasses, and old jukebox playing. The young woman shivered. Then common sense prevailed.

Come on Samantha! Don’t be fanciful! This place probably hasn’t been opened for years.

However the eerie feeling would not leave her; it was as though someone was watching her. She fumbled at the door frame searching for a light switch, but nothing happened. Just as she thought. No electricity!

Prepared for this event, Samantha retrieved a lantern from her car and returning switched it on, moving it slowly around the room and suddenly recoiled as bright green eyes were caught in the beam. She gasped.

What on earth? A cat is in here!

It was then she realized she was looking at a wooden cat on the bar, two bright green marbles for eyes. Sighing with relief, she reached out touching it gently. The hand crafted object moved backwards and forwards in a gentle movement. It was cleverly made, a carved wooden cat suspended on a wire, in an old fashioned frame. In the torchlight, the eyes were amazingly real.

Samantha laughed to herself.

Well Uncle Jack! What other surprises have you got in store for me? Lucky I’m not the mousy type, otherwise you wouldn’t see my tail for dust.

She giggled at her own joke.

Now come on! Let’s get some light in here!

A large window was to the left of the bar, covered in a rattan blind. Quickly she twisted the cord letting in the morning light. With the first rays of the sun glinting through the window, everything in the room started to take shape.

The first thing Samantha noticed was the bar. The front was cleverly inlaid in squares of different coloured timbers set at angles, showing the grains in the wood. Obviously someone who had a passion for timber had crafted this work of art.

Wooden stools made from similar wood were arranged along the bar, dark red vinyl seats in perfect condition. To her amazement, they were all polished, and running her finger along the stools, found no sign of dust.

Walking behind the bar, she was surprised to see many oddly shaped wine decanters, fragile glasses and some very interesting bottle openers, all having carved animals for handles. Obviously, it had taken someone years to collect! Beer mugs of every shape and size were also neatly placed on a bar runner.

An old-fashioned drink pourer in the shape of a large Boab tree, sat above a bottle of dark port. The unusual root like branches used as a handle.

A big breasted woman, wearing a beer barrel, corked a bottle of Johnny Walker Whiskey. Funniest of all, was a ghostly figure, standing beside Gin and Vodka bottles. The tiny plaque held in the raised hand was inscribed—Let the spirits lift you.

Samantha had to