Later that morning Mr McKinnley and Jack returned from one of the far paddocks with five men who Maggie remembered seeing yesterday but didn’t recall their names.
“Maggie, this is Dusty and Mellow, our two stockmen. Sid our Jackaroo, Ted our Station hand and Mr Price, the Station manager,” said Mr McKinnley, as he pointed to each of the men.
Dusty took off his Akubra hat and wiped his hand down the front of his shirt before extending a handshake. “Pleased to meet you Maggie, quite a journey you’ve had.”
“Welcome, Maggie,” said Sid and Ted.
“Hello, Maggie,” said Mr Price.
Maggie returned their handshakes. They are all tall here, she thought. “Hi everyone, it’s nice to meet you all. Yes, quite a journey, but I’m ready to get started,” she smiled.
“Hi Maggie, I’m Mellow,” greeted the giant before her as they shook hands. “Pleased to meet you as well.”
“Likewise, Mellow. Looks like you have all been busy this morning.”
“That we have, Maggie,” said Mr Price.
“Mr Price, nice to meet you,” she smiled at the older man. She noticed that he walked with a slight limp and thought he looked rather sweet, almost like a grandfather figure.
Now that Emily was out of immediate danger the tension lifted around the homestead. Mrs McKinnley insisted that Mrs Heppler go to bed for as long as she needed and that she would give Maggie a guided tour of the homestead. For once, Mrs Heppler didn’t argue and said that a few hours of sleep would be most welcome.
It wasn’t in her nature to rest up during the day, particularly when there was always work to be done, but circumstances were different this time. Knowing that Emily was in safe hands, she no longer fought her fatigue as she made her way out of the kitchen and headed towards the staff quarters.
Chapter Eight
“Now, Maggie,” started Mrs McKinnley, “the kitchen. It’s the heart of the homestead and the largest room by far. As well as meals, it is often used for staff meetings and the like. And this…” she said indicating the immense kitchen table, “can seat thirty people at a push, and it has on many occasions. The kitchen door is a constant thoroughfare during the day plus we have shearers, visiting stockmen and many other hands during the seasons.”
Maggie tried to imagine catering for thirty people in one go. To her, any more than four was a huge crowd. The kitchen was clean and big, painted white, and well looked after with a very homely feel. Along the far wall were two large range cookers, quite like what Mrs Sutton had at the Manor. There were many cupboards and shelves with all kinds of pots and pans and it looked like a hard-working and orderly kitchen.
“Mrs Heppler, Elsa and I do the cooking and it often seems like when one meal ends, we are moving on directly to the next. It is hard work, particularly with the heat, but I hope that you can help out from time to time to get the experience of the whole Station. On occasions we have extra kitchen help but mostly it is just the three of us. The staff quarters do have their own facilities, but we like a family environment here and all are welcome to join us for meals. Staff can opt in or out, it is up to them, but if they choose to dine with us then all we ask is a modest housekeeping fee that is deducted from their weekly wage…”
“Yes, please count me in as well, Mrs McKinnley and I’d be more than happy to take my turn in the kitchen, although my cooking skills aren’t much. I haven’t ever cooked for more than four people,” Maggie said with a worried look on her face as she eyed the vast table.
“Four or forty, it doesn’t matter, Maggie. Just double, triple and quadruple the ingredients. You’ll be catering for a whole army single-handedly before you know it.” Mrs McKinnley laughed but Maggie wasn’t convinced as they sat at the table with another cup of tea.
“During the day it’s rare that no one is in here, but there is always someone close by, remember that. In an emergency all you need to do is ring the bell outside the kitchen door and someone will come running. You’d be surprised how far the sound of that bell will reach.
“It’s also important that you know where rifles and medical supplies are kept as someone’s life may depend on your immediate action. We’ll go over that in a moment. No need to ask about your driving skills, you have proved that one already.” They laughed again. Maggie felt very comfortable with Mrs McKinnley and hoped she would earn her keep and prove her worth as part of the team.
After they finished their tea, Mrs McKinnley showed Maggie where the loaded rifle and the ammunition was kept. She went through the medical box thoroughly and also stated that there were identical boxes kept in the barn, staff quarters, shearing shed, and stables and that one was always taken when the team went out mustering. They then walked through the far kitchen door that led to a long corridor that ran the full length of the homestead. The corridor was the main walkway to all the other rooms in the homestead. It reminded Maggie of the ship’s corridor outside her cabin.
“It may take a little time to remember what room is where,” said Mrs McKinnley. “The only thing I can think of to help you is that there are eight bedrooms here, four at one end of the corridor, and four the other. As you know, yours is down the far left side with Emily currently in the room opposite to you. Next to yours is Sylvia and across the hall is Jack’s room. Mine and Mr McKinnley’s are at the other far end, we have a room apiece opposite each other and the other two are currently empty.”
“Where are Mrs Heppler and Elsa?” asked Maggie.
“On the other side of the yard. It’s a separate building but adjoins the men’s staff quarters. Goodness, that sounds horrible doesn’t it? But it isn’t, truly. You’ll see for yourself later what I mean. Also, from time to time, Elsa prefers to live in a small shack over the next paddock, but she knows there is always room here if she wishes.”
Mrs McKinnley seemed to open door after door and like the kitchen, the whole homestead was dominantly painted white. There was a beautiful dining room with an antique polished table that could sit twelve people in comfort. The room was tastefully decorated and wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Squire’s Manor house. The floor was solid oak and the walls were painted dark bottle green. Heavy cream drapes framed two sets of large windows from where the view over the lush lawn and beds of native plants and gum trees was breathtaking. Then the two women walked through adjoining interior double doors through to the lounge area. This room was decorated in creams and whites and looked open and fresh and again had amazing views of the garden and paddock beyond. There was an enormous sandstone fireplace and plenty of inviting settees and one seater chairs with ample scatter cushions.
“I love these rooms!” said Maggie admiringly, “you have decorated beautifully.”
“Thank you, Maggie,” said Mrs McKinnley, pleased with the compliment. “I am currently working on new cushion covers in readiness for the winter season. I try to mix up the colours a bit. The whole room more or less stays the same, I just add a splash of colour with the covers. It’s surprising how it changes a room for minimal cost.”
“What’s your winter colour scheme?”
“I have three yards of deep apricot which should go very well against the white and cream. What do you think?”
“That’s a lovely combination, it will look splendid, Mrs McKinnley.”
They walked back to the corridor and continued passed the bathroom then onto the library. It was a relatively smaller room but again, tastefully decorated and had a relaxing feel to it with floor to ceiling bookcases. Everyone was welcome to come and choose a book to read there or to take away on the understanding that it would be returned. Next to the library was Mrs McKinnley’s sewing room.
“I