Page 122 of Queenslander
The entrance was overgrown with lantana and mile-a-minute vines.
A flock of lorikeets flew overhead, pink and blue.
Ronnie unlatched the gate, which had a dummy lock, pushed it open on its wheel across the remains of a dirt road. “Ever snuck in and poked around?”
Nev shook her head. “Other than that time you showed me the pomegranate trees, no. This is all floodplain. A geologist would charge thousands of dollars to tell you that.”
She wiped red clay dirt onto the thighs of her jeans. “Good for grazing sheep, though.”
“We’ll see. You might have better luck selling dirt.”
A well beside a burnt-out concrete foundation appeared to be in good condition, relatively new judging by the lack of rust.
“Did you know there was a well?” Ronnie asked.
Nev shook her head. “This is where they moved the original Madonna house before they built the dam and flooded the valley.” Concrete outline of old ruins. The clay soil around it was flat.
Over the top of a line of gum trees Nev’s red tile roof was visible, as were the lavender field and plant nursery up on the hill. The lowlands would need work before they could return to use as hay fields or sheep pasture. Thickets of wild brambles spotted the dusty fields. Clearing it would keep her busy for years.
Grass, lantana, wattle, eucalypts. A haven for wildlife, but a challenging ecosystem for humans.
She would put up a barn first.
The stainless-steel pipe topped by a red J-shaped handle stuck out of the ground. She pumped the handle to see if it still worked. Nothing came out.
Nev fetched a plastic water bottle from the truck, carefully poured water into the hole at the top of the well-head where the handle joined the shaft.
“You have to prime an old well first.”
This time when Ronnie pumped the handle she felt resistance deep inside, could hear and feel the lever catch on something heavy. She kept pumping. The pipe breathed, gasping for air.
Several pumps later, clear liquid gushed out and spilled onto the dirt.
It smelled like nothing.
Nev cupped her hands, tasted it.
Ronnie released the handle. Her friend pumped while she cupped her hands under the flow. It tasted like the tap water at Upsend Downs.
She laughed. “That well’s worth at least ten grand.”
Nev offered her palm. “Welcome to the neighborhood. Bail me out during fire season?” It was fire season now, but hopefully they wouldn’t have another bushfire like the last one here for years. Interestingly, land liked to be burnt—fire was good for native species.
She shook Nev’s small hand. “What about you? Return the favor?”
“Always. I’ll help you build a house. Reckon you’ll put it here, where it won’t flood during the wet?”
Ronnie had plenty of lumber. She had milled enough to build a tiny house and a barn. “I’m leaning toward putting up a barn first. That way I can rent out stalls and get an income stream going while I work on the house.”
“Practical. Good girl.” Words like a warm hand running down her back.
Ronnie shivered. “Oi.” She scratched her neck where the ghost of KITTEN itched. “Taylor called. She wants you to get tested for that thing.”
Nev frowned and crossed her arms.
“I told her I’d talk to you, but no promises.”
Nev raised an eyebrow. “She shouldn’t have bothered you.”
