As they approached the Scott's residence Lucan could hear the sound of children laughing and squealing. They were about to knock on the door when it was flung opened. A young girl dashed past them. She ducked under Lucan's arm where he held onto the railing of the stairs.

No sooner had she reached the bottom when a boy of similar age stopped abruptly in front of them and stared wide-eyed. "Hello, Mista Hayes. Mum's in the back." He grinned at Thaiter, and then called loudly, "Mum... Mista Hayes is here." He smirked again and pointed at his sister. "Tess... I'm gonna get you for that!"

Both Lucan and Thaiter followed his finger.

Tess was standing outside the gate with a wide grin on her face. Hands on waist, she poked out her tongue, wiggled her hips and called in a sing song voice, "Alex!  Alex! He's no man, cause he cooks chooks in a frying pan!"

Alex grinned again. "Sorry, Mista Hayes gotta go." And with that he dashed down the stairs.

Tess screamed and ran down the road with Alex not far behind her.

When Thaiter and Lucan turned back towards the door the large cheerful face of Margaret Scott beamed down at them. She wiped her hands on her apron. "Thaiter. Sorry about that lot," she said as her eyes followed her children's progress. "He'll catch her and she'll be back in tears." Margaret chuckled, and waved them in. "Come on. I've got some tea brewing."

She motioned them to take a seat while she bustled about getting cups, milk and a biscuit tin from various shelves. "So, this'd be your nephew?" she asked as she continued to move from one place to the other.

"Yeah, this is Lucan and his lot, Covey and Riley. I wasn't expecting him to have lads."

Margaret beamed at the boys and held out a treat to each of them. "If ya want to play, the others are under the house digging for gold. They'd be happy to have some help."

Covey's eyes widened. "Gold?"

Margaret nodded. "And if ya find any you're welcome to keep it."

"Can I go, Da?" Covey beamed.

Lucan nodded and grinned as he watched Covey help Riley down the back stairs.

Placing a mug of tea in front of each of them, Margaret then went to the stove to stir what was in a large pot. "So how was your journey, Lucan?" she said.

Lucan studied Margaret as he spoke to her. He watched as she started to roll out some dough she had in a bowl. "Yeah, not too bad. I think the worst was coming from Myola to here."

She chuckled. "Yeah, that's the worst of it."

Tess ran into the room with tears streaming down her face. Margaret hugged Tess to her. "Knew this would happen, girl," she said as she patted her on the back, stirred the pot, took a sip of tea and chastised Alex for making his sister cry.

Thaiter scratched his head and cleared his throat before saying, "We was wondering, Margaret, if you might be able to look after Lucan's lads when he's on days and I'm not around. Lucan will gladly pay you?"

"Of course, anytime." Margaret beamed. "I hope they won't mind a bit of rough and tumble because they'll get plenty of it here."

Lucan laughed. "I expect it'll do 'em good."

Margaret chuckled and sat down to drink her tea. "The big one can go ta school with my lot and the young one looks to be the same age as Toby so they'll keep each other company."

The conversation moved on to the smelter and how her eldest son Mathew had started. She talked of her husband Harry and the progress of the fairly recent Vulcan Mine and its latest depth.

Margaret got up and down, continued to work the dough, sort out more scuffles while continuing to talk. Lucan was amazed she was able to do all of this with not a moment's hesitation or disruption to any of the other tasks she was performing. He liked her very much and his boys had fitted in with her clan as if they had always belonged.

Two days later Thaiter took Lucan to Loudoun House. Sunlight filtered through the windows highlighting the thick dust on the floor. A man with thinning hair and spectacles was seated at a desk.

"Hey, David, I'm here ta see Mista Moffat."

David lifted his eyes from the journal he was working on. This sort of intrusion was not uncommon. "He knows you're coming, Thaiter?"

"Yeah, I spoke to 'im a while back bout getting me nephew here a job, and then came yesterday ta say we'd be comin'."

"You should have left your children at home with their mother," David said as he glanced from the boys to Lucan.

Lucan didn't answer but just nodded his head.

"They ain't got one," Thaiter snapped. He strode across the floor towards the closed door and knocked.

"Come!" A voice called from inside. Lucan followed Thaiter into the room.

"Ah...Thaiter and you must be, Lucan." John Moffat shook the hands of both men. He turned to Thaiter and grinned. "He's got six inches on you. I thought you said he was your little nephew."

"Yeah, he's grown some since I seen him last, Mista Moffat." Thaiter chuckled.

"Sit, please." John pulled his chair closer toward the desk and opened the ledger in front of him. "Now, Lucan. You've mined before?"

"Yes, sir. Coal in Scotland."

"You'll find things a bit different here I expect. Not so cold for a start, though in winter we can get down pretty low, isn't that right, Thaiter."

Thaiter grinned. "But you won't run into any snow dat's for sure."

Lucan smiled at his uncle and looked back at John Moffat who was studying Covey and Riley thoughtfully.

"Thaiter tells me the boy's mother is dead." He didn't wait for Lucan to answer but continued to talk, "I've given it some thought. Tomhas Ryan has not long come back from the Palmer. He's got four daughters, two of marrying age." He turned to Thaiter. "You Know Tomhas don't you, Thaiter?"

"Bad tempered bastard dat one, sir."

"He's Irish, Thaiter and best to keep races together I think."

Lucan frowned. "We've arranged for Missus Scott to care for them, sir."

John shook his head at Lucan. "She already has six of her own, Lucan. You'll be needing a wife. Tomhas' girls won't disappoint you. You'll not go wrong. Even Thaiter will tell you that." John looked sideways at Thaiter, and then back at Lucan. "Get yourself to see him today. He's heading back out to the Palmer, day after tomorrow."

"If it's all the same, Mister Moffat. I've met Missus Scott and she looks to be doin' a grand job with her lot, sir. I think me bairns will be fine with her."

John shrugged and held his hand out. "If that's what you want, Lucan; I've a place for you at the battery working on the stampers. You go see Bluey Jackson. He'll get you a start."

On the verandah outside Lucan placed Covey on his feet and sighed. "I'm not wantin' a wife, Thaiter."

Thaiter tapped his nephew on the back. "It'd be more convenient for ya to have one, Lucan." He paused. "Kat's dead, Luc, and Mista Moffat's right. These boys need a mother. Margaret Scott wouldn't be given your sons much time with six of her own."

"All the same, it's not what I want right now."

They stood together in silence, looking at the dry dusty earth, at the mill and mules pulling tubs. Dark clouds had gathered in the sky. Thaiter gently shoved his nephew's shoulder. "Big fella like you ain't scared, are you?" He clipped Lucan's ear and moved off. "I'll see you back at the house." 

John Moffat is real and was a mining magnate of the time.

Top Photo - Irvinebank at it's peak.

Photo 2 - Mango Cottage kitchen full of collectables.

Photo 3 - Loudoun House, which is now a museum.