One evening, just before Beth’s bedtime, her Dad asked her if she would like to go with him and her two brothers to round up cattle away out in the back part of their large farm. She was delighted, of course, because generally she was considered too small to be taken on any of those trips. Now that she had Peter, though, perhaps it would be different. Off she went to bed, hoping she wouldn’t be too excited to sleep.
Morning seemed to come very quickly, and Beth was woken by Mother, telling her that breakfast was waiting. It was barely daylight, and rather a thrill to be sitting at the table so early, dressed in riding clothes, and ready to go off and share a day of work with the men.
Mother had packed food for them for the day, and they had the old black billy to boil over the fire to make the beautiful “billy tea” that was part of a day in the bush. Billy tea in enamel mugs, with thick slices of bread and cheese, were the makings of a meal for a king.
The horses were soon caught and saddled, and lunch packs and coats strapped on. Beth’s brothers’ big black and white cattle dogs were just off the chain, and were bounding around, keen to be away. Dad’s dog was smaller and more gentle, a blue and grey Kelpie, and mostly used for sheep but still very useful with the cattle. Beth still didn’t have a working dog, so she and Peter would have to do their work themselves.
Waving “Goodbye” to Mother, Beth trotted off down the paddock beside Dad, looking very small beside his big bay horse. They cantered across the flats and then climbed the hill on the way to the rougher part of the farm, where all the run cows with their calves were grazing. These had to be rounded up and brought back to the farm yards for branding and later for weaning.
It was exhilarating, riding along in the early morning, and Beth was very happy cantering along beside her Dad. The men opened all the gates, so she and Peter just had the fun, and it seemed no time before they reached the back of the farm. There was thick bush in some parts of the paddock and the ground was very rough, so Beth was told to be “very careful, a horse could fall and break a leg.”
Soon the sounds of dogs barking and whips cracking, mingled with the bellowing of furious cows trying to protect their calves from the men and dogs. It was great fun galloping around, finding stray cows and calves, then shouting to try to make them move off in the right direction. Beth and Peter were both enjoying it immensely.
Lunch time saw them all sitting around a carefully built fire, with the billy on a stick, waiting for that cup of tea. It had been thirsty work, all morning. Beth lay flat on her back and watched the soft white clouds move slowly across the blue sky.
It was all so peaceful and she was so happy.
They had hardly got started again after lunch when it happened.
A big black cow was being driven by Dad’s dog Tweed, when a calf in another group bellowed. The cow whirled around and charged Tweed, who was caught unawares, and on the rough ground was too slow getting out of her way. Bellowing madly, the cow was on him in an instant, and the damage done. When Dad got to Tweed he was a trampled mess, but still alive. Dad examined him carefully, and decided that except for a broken leg and severe bruising he was all right. Wrapping Tweed carefully in a coat, Dad and Beth set off for home. The two boys were to carry on with the round up, which was well on the way to being complete.
Beth opened and shut all the gates on the way home and it seemed to take a long time before they rode up to the house. Dad had decided to take Tweed to the Vet, who was in a town quite a distance away. Beth begged to be allowed to go too, and just as quickly as possible they were in the car and away. Long before they reached the Vet, Tweed was whining with pain, and Beth kept stroking him and covering him with the rugs.
Tweed looked very sick as he lay on the examination table while the Vet looked him over. The leg was broken, and in a bad place, but the Vet said he would do his best with it. Tweed was given anaesthetic and then his leg was shaved, set and put in plaster.
While he was unconscious, the Vet examined Tweed very carefully, all over, and to Dad’s great relief, said there was no other damage except bruising.
Tweed was carried out to the car and laid carefully on the back seat, and covered with rugs. The Vet was paid and thanked very much and they set off for home.
Beth was very tired by now, after all the excitement of the day, and it wasn’t long before she was fast asleep.
Tweed was a very good patient and enjoyed all the fuss that was made of him. Instead of having to struggle into his kennel with his leg covered in the heavy plaster, he was allowed to sleep on some sacks, on one corner of the verandah. After quite a long time he was taken back to the Vet, who removed the plaster and said that the leg was healed. Tweed was left with a limp but was very pleased to be able to run around again and start working as usual.