A Bride for Jack

The Fire Part 4

Chapter 9

As they raced over the scorched field, Jake realized that the meadow would assist with grazing for a few days while he bought feed or found another farm which he could rent for grazing. The alternative would be to sell most of the stock. When they reached the homestead they saw that the fire had by passed the homestead as they predicted. Jake banged on the cellar door and took Alison in his arms when she opened the door. The children were excited and kept on interrupting. But Jake, full of smoke and dust, held Alison in his arms and was so thankful that there had been no serious losses except for the grazing. Lana and Mike went to release the ponies from the garage. Half of the ducks pens were burnt out. Half the ducks were returned to their pens and the other half were left in the front enclosure until Jake could rebuild their pens.

"Come Jake, let's all go and have some tea and you can tell me what you did to save the cattle. I'm sure you want to have a quick shower."

"That's for sure," Jake smiled his teeth white against his soot covered face.

Sitting on the verandah, they were so thankful that their stock had been saved. Peter had made them promise not to mention the cave to anyone. Just then their next door neighbor pulled up.

He steps onto the verandah." Hi Jake, I am sorry about your losses. If only the wind had not turned. I lost half my stock. Have you added up the losses you sustained with your cattle?"

"Hi Graham, I am glad to say we lost no stock, only all our grazing."

"Yes Graham, not even a duck." Alison replied.

"That's impossible the fire covered all the camps where your cattle and sheep normally graze."

"Yes that's right, but we had a protected place near the dam. However, the loss of the grazing is a big problem. How much grazing did you lose?"

"About half my stock and most of my grazing, I think it hit your farm the worst. I must say this is amazing. You lost no stock. Congratulations. I'm off to the pub now. Everybody will be amazed at your luck. Would you like to join me?"

"Thanks Graham, but no, after today I need an early night."

"Ok then, bye."

"Well Alison, it is going to be awkward when everybody wants to know how we saved the stock. I have to respect Peter's wishes. Better avoid the village for the next week or two, especially at the pub."

"Come let's go to bed."

Lying in his bed Jake thought of Alison, he longed for the day that he could move into Alison's bedroom. Hopefully it would not be too far into the future.

The following week was hectic. Jake eventually found grazing for his stock on a farm only a few kilometers away. He would have to add temporary electric fencing to the camps as theft was rife in the area. Peter and Mina had agreed to move to the farm until the stock could come back. It would take a few months for the new grass to be long enough for grazing. Jake sold a large amount of the sheep. When the grazing was right again he would buy again.

After a few days when the grass in the meadow was getting low Jake took Peter and Mina to the new farm with the cattle. It took a few trips to get all the cattle to the new farm.

Sue was very upset about Mina leaving but luckily the crèche kept her busy.

After a few months the grass was long enough and the cattle were fetched home. Mina and Peter were glad to be home again. Mike and Lana were sitting in the lounge building a puzzle. Mina was putting Sue down for her afternoon nap. Mike and Lana heard a loud noise coming from the kitchen. Mina nearly had a heart attack. She ran to the kitchen. Lana and Mike were already standing at the kitchen door and laughing. A monkey was sitting on the sink with a banana that he had taken from the kitchen table. The monkey had dropped a mug from the table when he grabbed the banana. The mug lay shattered on the floor. The monkey jumped onto the windowsill when they came into the kitchen. Bernie was jumping up and down trying to get to the monkey.