Ten Mile Crossing

[cgraven]

Read along and enjoy If you think you have a character for this story PM me with your character for consideration or post it in the Ten Mile Creek OOC.


Ten Mile Crossing is a way station for the stage from Fremantle to the Australian Gold fields of Western Australia in 1885. It is the story of two young independent women of the period who dare to enter a man’s world to run a stage coach changing station in the Australian out back. The story revolves around the Station manager, the cook, A dark mysterious stranger and a young lad of eighteen. This unlikely group is drawn together at the stage relay station of Ten Mile creek on the way from Fremantle the western gold fields. The country is filled with people from all walks of life and social backgrounds all trying for the BIG STRIKE. They come from every corner of the world, Europe, North America, and China. It is a lawless time, where some prefer to make their BIG Strike at the point of a gun.
The station at Ten Mile crossing consists of a barn chorale, a cookhouse that serves as dinning room, and a small cabin which is quarters for the station agent. Ten Mile creek is the worst managed Station on the stage line and E. B. Harris recently arrived from America. has been hired to discharge Malcolm McCrery, the brute of a man, presently the agent.


IC:

The Town of Fremantle was bustling and noise as the Ships from Europe and San Francisco where arriving every day or so now. All loaded with those who had caught the gold fever, and come to make their fortunes. The docks where a babble of a dozen different languages.
“All aboard for the Gold Field have your tickets ready”

Dan McKay the stage driver sings out The four men and two women hurried to board. The crack of Dan’s whip cut the air like a rifle shot and the coach lurches forwarded. The heat is unbearable , the dust of the road chokes the passengers, and clings to everthing.”

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

Another blistering hot day dawned on the horizon. these days would be harsh on all who travelled during the day. Having walked all night i am becoming weary and seeking out the shade i look around the barren areas ahead of me.

Noticing a large tree i decide to make a rather plain camp of sorts underneath it. Tethering the horse so as not to lose my only means of transport that i had came to know from an early age. Feeding and watering the horse i brushed her down and moved a little distance away.

Unrolling the swag i layed down and pulled the hat more over my face as one hand rested on my hip where my gun lay. Being a fairly light sleeper and used to most noises if anything moved close to me it would want to have a good reason for doing so.

 

[WhisperingRain]

Emily Harris

Emily Harris is a young widow in her mid 20’s who had accompanied her husband from America to seek out their fortune in a country she new little about. There fortune not being found right away and needing to eat, Edward B. Harris’s background and training, he had been offered employment at a way station. Unfortunately, before they had managed to pack up and leave, there camp was raided and Edward was killed. Emily found herself completely alone and in need of a job. Having no other recourse, she decided to travel to the Ten Mile Creek and take the job as Station Manager herself.

IC

I boarded the coach, coughing slightly at the dust brushed my hand against the beads of sweat at my forehead. I was very thankful I had worn a short sleeved white cotton blouse and beige skirt, as hot as it was. For the thousandth time, I thought about what lie ahead. Ten Mile Creek, I wondered if all the dark rumors were true, and I also wondered what would come about when they found out that E.B. Harris was in fact a woman.

I sat quietly taking in the other passengers, fanning myself from the heat, smiling now and then at a comment made by one of them. I smiled at the only other woman on the coach, she seemed to be alone like myself and I couldn’t help but wonder what had brought her to be on this coach. I also noticed the glaring looks from one of the male passengers sitting opposite me and finally I looked directly into his eyes letting him know that I was well aware of him staring.

“Mam, don’t I know you from somewhere…” He said as he leaned up to talk to me and laid his hand on my covered knee.

“No you don’t Mister. And if you don’t remove your hand from my knee in the next second, you’re going to know a lot less.”

 

[Snork Maiden]

After eight weeks at sea, Lim Su Lee was grateful to be walking down the gangplank on to the quayside of the Fremantle harbor. The small but busy seaport was a bustle with new arrivals. News of the gold strikes at Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie had reached Europe and the New World and now prospectors were flocking to the relatively new and uncharted lands of Western Australia.
Of course it hadn’t been Su Lee’s idea to come to Australia. Her father had practically sold her into slavery for a handful of freshly minted sovereigns to a labor agency, set up by the Western Australian board of commerce and labor exchange, to provide cheap foreign workers for the rapidly growing population. The sound of horses hooves and steel rimmed carriage wheels clattered down the dockside road, kicking dust into the air. The sounds mingled with the general bustle and shouting of the dock workers as they hoisted the heavy cargo crates that had accompanied the passengers on their long journeys, Australia was after all, still a relatively young colony and supplies of luxuries and other commodities from the rest of the Empire were in great demand.

As she approached the small hut which served as the port’s only immigration point, she paused to swap her heavy carpet bag into her other hand.

‘Move it along there !’, a brusque toned voice boomed at the queue of disembarking passenger, ‘Have your papers ready’.

There was a commotion down the line as a young Chinese immigrant, clearly a stowaway, was discovered without his work papers. It was not an uncommon occurrence for many Chinese immigrants believed that they could achieve a better life in servitude than remain in their own home villages. For the British officials however this caused plenty of problems. True there were labor shortages but there was the matter of up holding the rights of the established labor exchanges who had paid for and placed most workers. These illegal immigrants posed somewhat of a problem and were generally taken away and held until the agencies could place them in work camps. Of course there were always the entrepreneurial recruiters who would try to intercept these permit less workers before the customs officials could filter them out. Generally they targeted the young oriental women that commanded relatively high prices being sold to disreputable establishments of entertainment. Several had approached Su Lee but she had simply shook her head and muttered Labor Exchange. One had even offered to buy her work permit but she had refused vehemently and when the unscrupulous individual had pressed her harder she started to make a great fuss attracting the attention of several port guards. Needless to say the man had retired quickly into the crowd waiting to strike at the next potential victim.

The queue moved slowly but constantly as the people were duly processed and finally having had her own papers verified and checked from the list as if she had been an item on an inventory she was directed towards the Labor Exchange. She was supposed to meet up with a Mrs Emily Harris, an American woman, recently widowed and who had now taken the task of running a way station on the main route to the Gold Field.

Once more Su Lee found herself stood in a queue as the new immigrants were directed to their respective employers. When her turn came she approached the clerk and produced her papers once more.

‘Let’s see then’, the man began as he glanced over the docket in his hand, I see you have been employed by an E.B Harris

Su Lee nodded, Yes, is right EB Harries, I Cook, yes she replied helpfully, the smile never breaking from her face.

The clerk flipped through some paper files in front of him, OK, you need take stagecoach that go Kalgoorlie. You get off at 10 Mile Creek Station. You meet EB Harries there. You understand, the clerk replied mimicking Su Lee’s broken English style. From experience he knew this would be more understandable then if he spoke in proper English.

Yes, Su Lee nodded, I understand, I go 10 Mile Creek. EB Harries at 10 Mile Creek, Yes

That’s righty, the clerk nodded, bringing the rubber stamp down hard on Su Lee’s work papers

Excuse please, where I find coach to 10 Mile Creek?, she asked the bespectacled man.

The man pointed out the door indicating the crossroads at the end of the street. Su Lee bowed her head again and picked up her carpet bag heading out towards the place indicated by the clerk. Ahead of her she could see the stage coach with several people embarking. She started to run towards the waiting vehicle and arrived just in time to catch it before the driver set off.

Wait please, you take I 10 Mile Creek please, Su Lee panted as she caught the drivers attention.

The driver eyed the tiny Chinese girl questioningly. You got a work permit or are you payin’, the driver asked. Of course he would rather her pay for he could set his own fee, but he knew it was more likely to be his luck that this girl would be travelling to some employer and the fare would therefore have been fixed in advance.

I have Permit Yes, Su Lee beamed waving the paper in front of the driver.

Then you’d better get aboard and be quick about it I don’t have all day to wait for you coolies, he replied curtly.

Su Lee clambered into the carriage with her bag and took a seat next to one of the male passengers. Opposite her a well dress woman wearing a skirt and short sleeved blouse sat having a short conversation with the man sat next to her. Catching sight of the man’s hand as it came to rest on the woman’s knee Su Lee turned her head to look from the carriage window. The crack of the whip split the air and the horses lurched forward, jolting the occupants in the carriage. Her journey had begun.

 

[cgraven]

The land was harsh and unforgiving, the dust a constant announce. Dan McKay kept the four hitch moving along at a steady pace. The wheelers a pair of rugged mules, the leads a pair of tawny mules from a Belgium mare, they may not be much to look at but they could withstand the heat and dust of this land better than any horse. The glint of the sun off a piece of metal under a tree ahead got Dan’s attention, and he nudged Wilbur the shot gun messenger.

“Better keep a sharp I mate, could just be a bloc in trouble or bush rangers.”

Wilbur cocked back both hammers of his express gun. Dan eased the tem to a walk ready to whip them up at the first sign of trouble.

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

Awakening to the distant sound of hooves and the neighing of my horse i let my hand slide over my holster as i lift my hat to look around.

Standing i noticed a coach moving at a steady pace along a track about 300 metres away. Rolling up my swag and untethering the horse i mounted her and rode towards the coach.

Nearing the coach my horse stumbled on a rock and nearly fell. I patted her and said "easy girl." Dismounting her and checking her legs i noticed a limp on one, not wanting to end her life out here i led her towards the coach as it stopped.

With guns loaded and aimed at my head i wondered who would be a quicker shot, if they missed me and hit the horse then so be it.

"Mate what brings you out this way, the only place at the end of this stretch is a station."

I pondered that thought as my eyes looked towards the occupants of the coach.

 

[Snork Maiden]

The coach rolled out of Fremantle heading eastwards, inland, towards the harsh lands of the Australian interior. The coach was uncomfortable, the seats hard and the suspension practically non existent. Frequently the carriage would jolt as it hit a rut in the makeshift road that wound it’s way across the arid landscape. There was vegetation, Su Lee could see that, sunburnt grassy outcrops and a few strange looking trees the likes of which she had never seen before. It was hot and uncomfortable too inside the carriage, the air stifling and stuff. The windows of course remained practically closed to prevent the dust that was kicked up from the horses hooves from entering the compartment. The only slight relief came from the secondary motion from direction of the woman sat opposite as she constantly fanned her face.

A movement outside caught Su Lee’s eyes and her mouth dropped agape as she watched a kangaroo hop by in the distance. She bounced up and down on her seat pointing out the window at the strange beast but none of the other occupants seemed to interested, to them one roo was just another roo nothing remarkable about that.

The carriage took a turn more northwards towards a more bushy region of the arid countryside, above her she could hear the voices of two men and some shifting about, the carriage slowed as the driver reined in his horses. Su Lee thought nothing more of it, her eyes watching the kangaroo bounce into the distance.

 

[cgraven]

Dan Look down at the stranger standing on the trial and a slow grin spread across his weathered face.

Why I’ll be damned is that you Vernon McClure, what brings you out this way, working for the stage line and Mr. Carlton again or are you headed for Kalgoorlie or Coolgardie mate.”

Dan’s eyes saw the way the man’s mount held her hoof.

Climb aboard mate that horse of yours looks like she’s gone lame You can thither her behind the coach or turn her lose up to you.

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

Ah it was who i thought it might have been driving this coach. Good and reliable Dan.

"Dan just heading up towards 10 Mile."

Slow movements i led my horse to the back of the coach and tethered her to the sturdy back bar. Giving her a pat to let her know all was ok i walked back and glancing at Dan opened the door to the couch.

Climbing aboard the coach i took in the few passengers aboard and sat down. Hand resting lightly on my hip i swung the door shut. In the company of ladies for the first time in years my eyes moved past them to my mount, didn't have the heart to kill her so when i got to Ten Mile i would take care of her there.

 

[cgraven]

The crack of the whip and the coach jolted forward

 

[WhisperingRain]

Emily

As we journeyed on I couldn’t help but smile at the woman that was overjoyed with seeing the kangaroo. I too had loved watching them when I had first arrived and still did. Looking at her, I wondered if this was the woman that my husband had employed to help him at the station. I was about to ask her, just as the coach stopped. I grew slightly nervous knowing of the dangers of robbers on this trial but relaxed when I saw the extremely tall man get on board with us.

Giving him a pleasant smile as I did the other passengers, I sat quietly listening to them talk about 10 Mile Creek. I had heard all the rumors of how in bad shape the station was due to how Mr. Malcolm McCrery had been running it. I quickly looked up when one of the gentleman said that he had heard that they had hired a man named E.B Harris to replace him and word was that he was to discharge Malcolm. The burly gentleman laughed, saying that he would like to be there when that happened as Malcolm was not going to take kindly to it.

“Gentleman, I happen to be E.B. Harris, Mrs. Emily B. Harris and whether he takes kindly to it or not, I intend to discharge him.”

The looks on all their faces showed they were all quite shocked at this.

“But you’re a woman, that’s one of the roughest station’s out there. A pretty thing like you has no business being there, let alone running it.” Tom Grogen remarked, the same gentleman that had earlier took liberties with my knee. He again leaned closer to me, his hand going to my knee again. “How is it that your husband sent you instead. If you were my wife, I wouldn’t be letting you travel alone like this.”

“Mr. Grogen, my husband was recently killed and I do intend to run the station. I also am not your wife, nor do I wish to be and if you do not remove your hand and keep them to yourself, your wife, if you have one, will be very disappointed when you return home unable to bed her.”

“Aw Mam, I was just trying to be friendly is all.” Tom said taking his hand from my knee. “I just wanted to get to know you some, pretty thing like you.”

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

With the coach moving along at a steady pace and my eyes having briefly met one of the ladies i listened to the gentleman talking about 10 Mile and i smiled on the inside.

A shocked look hit my face as i heard the woman speak and introduce as the one to take over 10 mile. This woman showed spirit and true grit all which she would need to run a station in this harsh environment.

Eyes looking out the carriage i heard her words and noticed one of the men removing his hand rather slowly from her knee. Not usually speaking much at all i knew i needed to.

"Excuse me mate but i think the lady has already made her feelings known, please respect them as i don't wish this coach to stop."

Realising my voice had been raised i exchanged glances with both ladies and smiled before turning my gaze to look back out the side watching the countryside go by.

 

[WhisperingRain]

Emily

The rest of the journey was rather silent with everyone lost in their own thoughts. Although confident I could run the station, I had to admit that the closer we got to our destination, the more my stomach seemed to tie up in knots. This man, Malcolm McCrery, who was running the station, did not sound like a man easily to be gotten rid of.

As we approached the station, I took inventory of the men sitting with me, noticing any weapons they may have and glanced at their eyes, trying to figure out if any of them would help me if necessary. I was hoping very much I could get rid of Mr. McCrery myself though. I knew that was the only way I would gain any of these men’s respect, including the man who had hired my husband.

Once the coach stopped and we all got out, the dust swirling around us, the heat stifling, I saw several men waiting outside the station. I watched and listened carefully at the conversation between our driver, Dan and the men, instantly knowing which one was Mr. McCrery by his mannerisms and arrogance. I again took a quick inventory of my surroundings before I walked up to confront him.

“Mr. McCrery if you would kindly read this piece of paper.” I said boldly, looking him directly in the eyes.

The paper read as follows, along with all the proper signatures.

This gives authorization to E.B. Harris to take over the station at 10 Mile Creek, along with the discharging of Mr. Malcolm McCrery.

“Considered yourself discharged, Mr. McCrery. Kindly remove yourself and your personal belongings from the premises immediately.”

 

[cgraven]

Malcolm McCrery

Malcolm McCrery Sat in the shade of the cook house, a rather rough bunch of lay abouts and drifters hanging around the relay station. He made good money selling them whisky and supplies that where mean for the stag lines passengers, but what the head office didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

He watched with mark disinters as the stage pulled in the team just about spent. He just smirked at the disgusted look on Dan McKay’s face, Damn the old git though more about those damn mules and horses then he did about people.

What caught his eye was the dimities little blond that alighted from the coach, then Dan McKay was in his face about the relay team.

“ McKay if you’re in such a damn hurry then you get them out here .”

“Mr. McCrery if you would kindly read this piece of paper.”

He smiled his yellow teeth gleaming in the afternoon sun.

“Well if its work you’re looking for Missy with your looks I am sure we can work something out.”

There was a snicker from the men gathered around him.

As she stood there the paper thrust out at him at arms length he finally grabbed it and started to read his face going crimson.

“Considered yourself discharged, Mr. McCrery. Kindly remove yourself and your personal belongings from the premises immediately.”

A mean surly look darkened his face as he drew himself to his full hulking height.

“And who is this E B Harris that sends a woman to do a man’s job?’

He paused his voice now taking on a taunting tone.

“ And Missy what if I don’t want to be discharged and remove myself as you put it?...........Are you gone to make me leave Missy?

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

Stepping from the coach i took and summed up everything before me. McCrery looked and snickered with his men as he was served the papers. His remarks to Dan didnt go unnoticed to me either.

Approacing i stood where i could see McCrery, his men and the lady. Putting my hand on my holster i waited for a wrong move from him or one of his men and patted my gun a few times.

 

[WhisperingRain]

Emily

And who is this E B Harris that sends a woman to do a man’s job? And Missy what if I don’t want to be discharged and remove myself as you put it?...........Are you gone to make me leave Missy?

As soon as he stood up, I immediately stepped back, not only was his size bullying but his sarcastic tone really didn‘t set well with me either. It caught my attention when I moved that Dan was standing to one side of me and another man from the coach on my other side.

Before the man could move any closer to me, I quickly reached over, grabbed Dan’s whip from his hand. Being very familiar with a whip, I quickly cracked it, lashing it once across the flesh of his neck, the next one across his chest, splitting his shirt open, making him fall back on the ground crying out.

“The next time I crack this, my aim will be a lot lower. You’ve been discharged, now leave.”

I stared at him with bold determination in my eyes and voice.

 

[cgraven]

Malcolm McCrery

Crack………… Crack ………… Crack

The sound of the whip split the air like a pistol shot, catching Malcolm McCrery around the next.

”Bitch”

He felt the warm trickle of blood running down his neck soaking his ripped shirt where the lash had cut into his chest. McCrery curled into a ball to protect himself.

“The next time I crack this, my aim will be a lot lower. You’ve been discharged, now leave.”

He stared at the little blond in disbelief.

“You may have won this round Missy but you will not always folks to back you up.’

Turning to the group gathered on the porch.

“You lot going to work for that little blond bitch?”

He Paused.

“Well then drag you swag…………………I’ll be back E B Harris and you can count on it.””

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

Having witnessed the lady take McCrery to task i smiled and thought to myself this lady has guts and determination. I vowed never to cross her path if i could help it. I walked past Dan and back towards the coach. Untying my horse i led her off in the direction of the stables.

Slow movements i approached and entered the stables, not much noise could be heard and i thought this strange but let it go for now. Putting my horse in one of the stalls i organised fresh food and water for her. Leaving my gear near her i set to work on fixing her leg.

Hearing a noise in the stables i wondered if someone had followed me thinking they could bring harm to me. Stepping out of the stall i noticed a young lad watching me and then i noticed some tin in his hand. He approached and handed me the tin and i thanked him.

 

[cgraven]

Mat

I heard the coach rolling in, Malcolm McCrery load boisterous voice booming in his perpetual half drunken state .

“ McKay if you’re in such a damn hurry then you get them out here .”

I shift the pair of Army boots that hung around neck, watching the events unfold in the station yard. The trim little Blond, standing there, her voice steady as McCrery towered over her, the crack of the whip the way she drove that brute back had him rolling in the dust, and the way she demised him. The man tall dark, his hand idly resting on the butt of his pistol, Dan McKay ready for action at the drop of a hat, he didn’t look like much but that old man was a terror when provoked. The messenger his shot gun leveled at that scum that hung around McCrery.

……………. I’ll be back E B Harris and you can count on it.”


I drew back in the shadows as The tall stranger led his horse to the stables . He was gentle with that little mare of his.

“Mister try this it is a salve it will help.”

I didn’t have no real schooling but I did know a thing or two about horses and mules. I handed the tin.

“Mr. if that lady out there is a friend of yours you best tell her that Malcolm McCrery don’t make no idle threats and he don’t respect nothing including women. “

I paused looking him over.

“Hell be back when she least expects it and he wont be a lone.”

 

[WhisperingRain]

Emily

Even though I remained steady, I was actually trembling inside and was very much relieved when Malcolm decided to leave. Ignoring his crude and threatening remarks, I walked to the cook house.

“You gentleman come on in and let me see what we can do to get you all something to eat and drink before you’re on your way.”

As soon as I walked in, I was overwhelmed by how bad of shape it was in. Not only was it dirty and dusty, I wasn’t even sure if we were even going to find anything to cook for them. Standing at the door, I turned to face the other woman who was walking from the coach, looking rather shaky at what had occurred.

“Excuse me, miss, I’m EB Harris, Emily, and I sure hope you are the woman my husband employed for a cook. If so, it looks like we have our work cut out for us and these men don’t want to wait to long.”

 

[Henry]

Vernon McClure

I was about to head back to my horse when i heard the young lads words and listened to them. The last few words stuck in my head as i tried to make up my mind what to do. I wanted to warn her but at the same time could this scrawny looking lad be trusted with his words.

Looking around the stables i didnt notice any other horses and really knew this was strange. What type of station didnt have horses around. Deciding not to worry about that or the lad's words i went back to my mare and started working on her leg. Unholstering my gun i laid it down as i worked.

Having rubbed the linament in and bandaging my mare's legs i holstered my gun and walked to where the lad stood. Noticing that he could do with a good meal as my own stomach grumbled a little i wondered how much more about this place he knew.

"Why don't we head inside and introduce ourselves to the new boss of this station and maybe get a bite to eat."