Shit, what was I thinking. It must be around eleven p.m and Mont and I are wandering around in the dark. A narrow cattle track winds through the Mulga, it's faster than the main track round the cliff but....

Why did I come this way it's not the way dad would have come. I'm a ninny. But I've done it now.

I rode up to the trough and gave Monty his head to have a drink.

Well it's well and truly trashed here; mud and cattle footprints show that the water got here. So whatever happened, happened on the way home. The first torch decided it was time to conk out. Fantastic.

Letting Monty quietly drink, I yelled out 'Dad', then 'Martin' and Cooee'd over and over, listening every time but it was no good, eerie silence the only thing in my ears.

"Let's set up a camp Mont."

********

What am I doing in the middle of a thousand acres at midnight. I haven't done this in so long.

From here it was too dangerous to proceed further. One, the track and two, what if I just passed by dad, missing him completely.

But even with the eons of time that have passed I still gather firewood, stones to make a circle and dry grass to help ignite the wood; like I had been doing it always. I kept as close to the trough as possible, out of the slop of cattle footprints, of course.
The thick mud made from hundreds of hooves that had pressed and pushed around the trough, not a blade of grass to be seen. Sloshing and spilling the water, dropping manure, as they milled. I searched and found a clean area but still on the bare earth so not to set the bush, that stood footsteps further away, alight.

You're a fool, girl.

Flames lit my face, hot if I stayed hunkered over the small flames. And as the flames grew, the cool air settled over me from above and I still shivered from the chill at my back, with no jumper, the saddle blanket would have to do.

A dingo trotted to the outskirts of the fire gazing through it, looking at me with clear beady eyes then switching his focus to Monty, I threw a rock and it dashed away.

Where are you, daddy whispered to the million stars bright above, the Southern Cross gazing down upon me.

I reached into the backpack and grasped biscuits, thanks mum. Grabbing the Walkie Talkie I turned it on, there was a hum then nothing so I smacked the side a couple of times. Typical dad, it looked like the one I used to use years ago, duct tape wrapped and winding around the unit.

I whispered stupidly into the thing. Who was listening? Hoping it was going to work. I was in a dip so that didn't help with reception. "Mum?- Sunland Plains - over"

The walkie- talk crackled and went silent, damn thing.

"Arrr Sam?....Sam!" John sounded like I had woken him, his voice was very welcome though.

"John?"

"Hmmm yea... you...o "

"This thing is playing up. I'm ok, an idiot but ok. No dad as yet." I banged the side again.

"Need.... M.... idiot why" What? Oh 'need mum' I think he is trying to say.

"No don't need mum.. I'll tell you later- over"

"ok...Sam...I need you, just so you know"

"Not going anywhere...bye- over"

What is John thinking of all this. Of me dashing off leaving them in my mother's hands. Although she would have them sorted it was rude of me.

Of course, with the events transpired, I had to ride out. Had to remember the land, sitting deep in the saddle, Monty. Had to be strong to find dad.

*********

Monty made a low short whinny and pawed at the ground which woke me up, the fire was ashes and I could just make out the predawn pale orange of the sun.

"Sam... Sam... Sam- over!!

"Morning, alarm clock- over"

"ok?"

"Never better thanks- I'm switching off, no battery. Will check-in mid morn-over"

I took a drink from the trough, ugh, It was pretty dirty looking having had 200 plus head of cattle slurping it up all day yesterday; but mum in her haste, and me in my idiocy, forgot the most important item- H2O.

Dirt kicked over the ashes and coals, a couple of splashes of murky water to be sure, I hoped it was enough to stay dead. Quickly resaddled Monty, replaced the gun in the leather sleeve attached. Now to mount up, Monty wouldn't co-operate this morning so I lead him to the side of the trough 'don't you move, I'll fall in!

I was up and we took off at a fast trot towards the proper track now, that started the long scrub loop back towards the homestead.

The sun was high and warming up already, maybe seven a.m or so I guessed. Slowing Mont as we came round a tight bend with a small embankment beside the edge of the road, I scanned the dry creek bed at the bottom. Moving closer to the edge we walked the track.

There!

The quad- bike was on its side.

The water cart was off its tow-hitch and further down near the creek bed. I dropped down off Monty, two feet firmly landing on the ground. Tied off the rope to the saddle and proceeded down the embankment at it's lowest point. Once I got down I raced toward the bulky four wheeler. I could see dad now, he was pinned between the bike and a she-oak tree, he lay still, half slouched against the tree.

"Dad, dad!!" I shook him slightly and felt for a pulse. He was still alive, thank goodness. A gash on his head where blood had flowed was now congealed and dry, flies buzzed around the wound, dad, and now, me.

"Sam???? Am I dead"

"NO, you're not dead dad and yes it's me, Sam"

But you're in America - I am dead" I stuck his hand on my face then kissed his palm, my other hand searching his arms for breaks.

"I came home daddy, I'll get this bike off you" He was pinned by the wheels of the bike if I pulled it away from the tree it would, hopefully, land back down in its rightful position.

"I can't move it, too heavy luv"

"I'll find you some water"

"In the case on the side, bub" Dad gasped as he tried moving to help me. I pressed him to stop and grabbed his water bottle that was on the far side of the bike. He gulped the water way too fast and had a coughing fit. I looked over the bike, the kill switch under the seat must have worked and the engine died as dad fell, otherwise it would have torn him to shreds with the wheels spinning.

'Monty I'll need you big fella'.

I tied the rope to the best position on the bike for it to drop away from dad with Monty's help, climbed back up the bank using the rope, and double checked my knot on the saddle.

I yelled back down the embankment to make sure dad heard me "Ok Monty- dad, I'm going to have a go at shifting the bike now" I stood beside Monty's ear near his shoulder. "Back Monty boy, back-up boy" He baulked and snorted, shaking his head as the rope took the heavy weight.

I encouraged him again ' Back up, Monty'

One, two, three steps. Ouch Monty stood square on my foot and toes. I jumped on one leg and continued, ignoring my foot. I was in sneakers -idiot! 'Back, Monty' four, five.

The bike groaned and fell down onto it's wheels with a loud thud, Monty pawed the ground, and threw his head about when I stopped him pulling. "Good boy" I pulled him forward and undid the slackened rope, gave Mont a good rub and repeated "Good boy, big fella"

"Let's get you down to dad" As I took a longer route to get Monty and me down into the creek-bed I grabbed the walkie talkie and let the homestead know I found dad and he was, thankfully, alive.

"Dad, you're a bit groggy, do you think you can sit up on Monty? We need to get you home."

"I'm better now, my legs aches but I feel good in my head now"

"Let me put something on your gash"...

**********

After a struggle I got dad on Monty, we had to use the bike as a ramp to give him some height to get him up.

"Stirrups , hold on to the front of the saddle dad, you're still a fair bit wonky"

"Stop fussing about. I know how to ride a bloody horse, let's get going"

"Still pig headed I see"

Dad must have been feeling better, he poked his tongue out at me.

The quad started straight up, a wonder in itself, I thought the engine would have been flooded with fuel for sure. I had to cross the creek bed to get out, dad and Monty followed. As I worked the bike up the bank it slid and conked out on me.

"Gun the damn thing, girl"

"Oh I miss this sort of banter- not!"

Making it up the steep bank I turned around in the seat and watched as Monty cleared the bank, a big jump that I hadn't anticipated. He was up with dad still aboard but dad was leaning badly and half asleep maybe even semi- unconscious; rolling in and out as if in a dream.

"Woah, Monty" I walked Monty over to the bike so I could get high enough to work on the saddle, I pulled dads belt free of his jeans.

"What the hell are you doing to me dacks!"

"Tying you on, old man. Now behave yourself" Using the rope and belt I worked dad onto the saddle, tying him down effectively.

Dad was a big man so I couldn't ride double with him.

"We're coming home now, slowly- over" The walkie talkie crackled, I hit it again "Bring the truck to the bottom gate, about an hour I should think" the walkie talkie died completely, I wasn't sure if the message got through. I chucked it in the saddle bag.

I had the reins off one side, to use as a lead. I had a couple of biscuits left and offered Monty a tiny piece and moved the bike forward and offered another crumb, he got the idea and walked alongside the bike quietly.

"Speed up a bit luv, need to see your mum"

"Dad?...."

"A trot, let's have a try girl"

"ok, if you think so..."

I moved the bike into second and it surged and I nearly ripped my arm off as Mont was still ambling along "tic tic tic" I clicked my tongue coaching Mont to a trot "trot on boy"

Johns POV

"There!" I hollered out.  Paul and Linda rode off on some farm horses they had saddled, to meet Sam as she came out of a band of trees and scrubbery "There's me girl"

As they neared, they tossed her a water bottle, she chugged the full bottle, Paul and his horse went beside her dad.

"He's tied up!" George stepped out of the aircon of the truck to see the party returning, nearing us by the second.

"Hey" Magic sat on the four wheel bike and killed the engine, it's front axle looked totally bent and there was no muffler. Sam looked dead tired, her hair was a mess of tangles and dirty streaks lined her face, she had cried at some point.

"Why is your dad tied up like a bank robber?" George asked.

"He isn't quiet alert, I had to tie him on or he would have fallen"

"Doctor should be nearly here. George let's get him into the car" I took over the patient and Sam smiled at us. "Want a lift?"

"Nah, I'll sort the bike to the machinery shed and clean up Monty then I'll be up the house"

The bike started with a puff of exhaust smoke and she yelled the big horses name, he loped after her. George and I drove to meet the doctor and Nancy. Paul and Linda trotting after Sam.

***********

The doctor came and went and Sam still wasn't back up at the house. I walked quickly down to the barn to see what was the matter.

"Sam?"

"Over here mate" Paul and Linda were washing down Monty, water spraying everywhere and I still couldn't see Sam. I raised a questioning eyebrow to Paul who pointed off to his left.

There she sat, in a trough of murky farm water. "What are you doing?"

"I was hot" She laughed at Montys big horse lips pulled back as Linda gave him a drink from the hose " I was hot, now I'm totally stuffed and can't move" Her head lolled back, sleep was taking over from all the adrenaline she obviously had been running on.

"So I pick her up? And carry her to the house? Can I do it? It's a bit of a trek and I'm no action man" I spoke to Paul but Linda answered.

"You will and you will easily. Love finds a way" I smiled somewhat perplexed to Linda's crazy logic.

"Can you stand up at least Magic?"

"Yeah, too easy"

"Watch her foot it accidentally got a hoof on it" Paul said pointing to the horse's giant hoof. "A bit sore but she insists it's just swollen"

....And then I carried Magic to the farm house. 

"Nancy, shower?" I yelled into the house as I reached the bottom step. I had managed to get to the bottom step then Rich helped me negotiate the verandah stairs.

"You ok with her.....in the shower?" Nancy was a bit unsure.

"You look after hubs, I'll sort Missy here"

************

"John" Sam woke up in her bed, hours later. I sat at the window waiting. "Dad?" She struggled to sit up.

"Lay down and rest luv, he's fine"

"Hugs?" She patted the bed tiredly and promptly fell back asleep. I lay beside her, cuddling her carefully.

"......Sleep tight, Samantha....."