Obsession Down Under by LAYNE MACADAM

babe. That’s all there is to it.” He grinned as she trotted past him, and pulling on the reins turned Rocket to follow her out.
    Jessie Rose, though, hadn’t been born to the saddle, and Millie proved to be more than a handful. He realized her riding instructor’s comment of her being unbelievable was not meant in a good way, but she was enthusiastic and determined to persevere and followed his instructions without complaint.
    Whip and Jessica arrived to the smell of burning hide, dust clouds, and a loud racket. She wrinkled her nose and tried to ignore the odor and wailing cattle as she reined Millie in, but the smell was pungent and the noise a deafening din. Two or three cattle dogs yapping and nipping at the cows’ hooves added to the noise and confusion.
    Nearby, half a dozen men who were busy attending the cattle acknowledged them with a wave. She recognized Mark and Drew as they broke away from the group and lobbed over. Drew helped her down.
    “Hey, Jess, glad you could make it.”
    “Yeah, we weren’t sure whether you’d have the stomach for it, being a city girl and all.” Mark made it sound like a challenge.
    A muscle twitched in her cheek and her chin came up. “It is a little daunting, but I’m anxious to experience as much of station life as I can. I might never get another opportunity.” She spoke louder than normal so her voice could be heard above the noise of the complaining cattle.
    “Come on then, and I’ll show you firsthand what we do from start to finish. You can help me and the boys separate the calves from their mammas if you like.” Drew clasped her hand and towed her after him without waiting for her agreement. She threw a backward glance to Whip, who cheesy grinned her and shrugged his shoulders. He and Mark then set off in the opposite direction to join the other men who were busy branding the first lot of calves in the enclosure.
    “Now don’t get too close, Jess, ‘cause the mamma cows can get a wee bit cantankerous,” Drew understated as he led her over to where two young men and a couple of cattle dogs were busy herding the calves away from their mothers.
    It was kind of sad. The cows were kicking up a ruckus at being separated, and the dogs snapped and yipped at their hooves like a pair of demons. At first glance it looked like total chaos, but as she watched it became evident there was, in fact, a method to it.
    “You just stand by the gate and close it after we herd this lot through.”
    “Sounds simple enough.” She wiped her brow with the back of her hand and then took up her position and waited. When the calves were chased through, she swung the gate closed and latched it.
    “Now that you’ve got another set of hands, I’ll head on over and pitch in with the mustering,” one of the young men said, and then tugged the brim of his tan Akubra before vaulting onto a horse and riding away.
    She continued to work with Drew for the rest of the afternoon. The temperature soared and the dust and grime got up her nose and onto her clothes. Apart from that her job was easy. But when Gladys, Cyril’s wife, arrived with sandwiches, a Thermos of coffee, and fresh-baked banana bread, Whip called a halt to activities and she was not about to complain.
    The snacks were delicious, and Whip and his brothers had Gladys blushing like a young girl with their sweet-talking praise. It became apparent that the wizened little female was a pivotal member of the McGregor family.
    The break was over all too soon and it was back to work. Jessica groaned as she stood, but she didn’t hesitate getting back to the job at hand.
    The work didn’t require much concentration on her part, despite that the afternoon flew, and it was late when the last of the calves were herded into the pen for branding.
    “Jess, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider and give it a go?” Drew asked for the third time in the last hour.
    “Uh-uh, no way. I’m usually willing to give most things a go and I