CHAPTER 1
Duke Caine arrived home from work at 2:15, ending his workday as a shift chief electrical engineer at Fulton Mine. The mine was only a 10-minute drive away and that allowed him to rise twenty minutes before he was due to clock-in at 6 a.m. He'd attend to ablutions, dress and feed the cat before climbing into his trusty red Holden ute (pickup) he called Gipsy Rose. He'd then have breakfast in the café at work providing he didn't arrive during an electrical emergency.
The thirty-four year old lean Australian with a leathery face from spending too much time in the sun, hiking, kayaking and fishing, gave some attention to Misty his black cat with one green and one brown eye. He checked the crap he'd taken from the mailbox, put a slow roast in the oven and then took his coffee and sat on the front veranda under the corrugated iron roof overhang.
A couple of minutes later he heard the music, female voices actually. The three women never stopped talking and frequently spoke over each other but all three mothers were pretty and in warm weather displayed their tits under their smiles, er partly exposing the flesh, and these were things that appealed to Duke. He was a bachelor and his loneliness was why he regarded their chatter as being musical whereas married guys would call it something like 'the squawking of friggin' hens'.
"Good afternoon ladies," he called cheerily. "Now which one of you shall I have instead of dessert tonight?"
Although he used that line at least once of month they giggled politely and chorused, "Hello Duke."
He liked Gina best. When she talked excitedly she threw her hands about and that make her heavy tits lurched back and forth. Fortunately she had a big ass for counterbalance otherwise the sudden shift of volume mass would have sent the poor woman sprawling. Her kids were Marco and Lisa. She had the boisterous kind of laugh that tickled Duke's spine. Yeah he could really go a few rounds with Gina. She often unnerved him, giving him that quick glance that incorporated that special look women had when on heat.
Debra was always fussing with her blonde hair and she looked interesting with a hand lifted to fiddle that projected her cute 34s forward that currently were increasing in size. She had Melissa at school and was pregnant with either Basil or Wendy. She had a bubbling personality that scored big points with Duke, and probably her husband for that matter, but Gina was out on her own for natural sexiness.
Gretchen was a Hun, who'd arrived in the country as a young teenager and her family settled in Western Australia. She later married a miner and he came here to Thompson to become a senior operations engineer in the gold mining operation. Her boobs were visible, but only just, and she was the intellectual one of the three and whatever she said made the others think, well that was Duke's assessment from the few moments each time they went by each school day.
"Duke has your mail order bride from Russia arrived yet," she joked.
Gina and Debra stopped abruptly and looked at the mother of Pauline and Frederick before looking up at Duke, waiting for the answer.
"I wrote the letter but ran out of stamps," he said. "Could you bring some stamps round tonight, say about 10 o'clock?"
"In your dreams," Gretchen snorted and that didn't end the matter.
Gina said, "I'll bring the stamps. Tell me what you want?"
Duke heard Gretchen or Debra whisper he'd want more than stamps.
The women hovered uncertainly.
Duke said kindly, "Gretchen was only joking Gina. There is no letter but thank you for your offer. It was so neighbourly of you."
The three women giggled and flashed glances at Duke, Gina looking at him the longest. Off they went to wait outside the primary school gates for their children to be released.
Fifteen minutes later they walked by again.
"Hi Mr Caine," came the ragged call and he said hi kids and asked what was the news for that day.
Pauline the oldest kid said, "I received my proficiency certificate for pool lifesaving today."
"Oh great Pauline, well done," Duke said and he heard Gretchen say Pauline hadn't told her that and Pauline said she'd been saving the news for Mr Caine.
Duke jumped off the deck and pulled out a two-dollar coin and handed it across to the smiling 12-year-old.
"You shouldn't, that's spoiling her," Gretchen frowned but she relaxed when Duke grinned and said he knew that.
Gina's boy Marco asked, "How do I stop one of my friends being bashed by a bigger kid?"
"Well it's risky to jump in but you should discuss this with your mother and father. Ask them should you call your friends to jump in together and pull the bigger kid away."
"Why should I ask them when you're the one with the brains?"
"You mum is very intelligent and your father must have had the brains to become the great centre he was when he played rugby league and played for Australia in two games Marco. You are lucky to have such good parents."
"How do you know about my father?" asked the nine-year-old.
"Because he's famous in this parts and there are photos of him and his jersey and player's medals are in a glass case at Mulligan's Pub. That's why I know. Now kids when are get home ask your mum what jobs you can do to help her. Not many kids think of doing that as it will make you special."
The three mums looked at Duke, each with a different expression, all unfathomable.
"Thank you for my two bucks Mr Caine."
"Thank you Pauline. You'll probably be a good swimmer but I expect you may really star as a tennis player. I was helping put in new windows into the tennis club pavilion last Saturday morning and saw you receiving coaching. And then later as your coach sat watching you absolutely cleaned out that older kid who looked very athletic."
"Thank you Mr Caine. I love tennis and find it easier than swimming."
Gretchen clucked, "You are putting ideas into that girl's head."
The kids were already walking off and lowering his voice Duke said, "Gretchen I'm willing to bet you $500 bucks or alternatively if you lose you can clean my house for twelve months that Pauline will be in the junior girl's team for New South Wales Country within months of her turning fourteen. That is if she continues to get the coaching."
"That's bullshit," Debra said.
"Easy Debs," Gina smiled. "Romeo here was a New South Wales schoolboy tennis champion before he became a professional Rugby League player and even these days our club pro is the only one around here who can beat him at tennis."
Gretchen appeared impressed. "I'll see to it Pauline gets all the coaching she needs if that's what she wants Duke."
"You're a great mom," Duke said, and looking at Gina said, "Thanks for your support and oh, great boobs too. Oh Jesus, what am I saying?"
Gina looked at him open mouthed.
Duke blurted, "I was hit by madness Gina. I apologize." He then ran up the steps and into the house, feeling mortified.
The women had progressed three properties along Cullen Street and Duke could still hear them chortling. God what had made him think out aloud?
Later the house phone went. Well at least that meant it wasn't a mine emergency.
"Hi it's Gina."
Duke tensed.
"I've asked the girls not to repeat to anyone what you said about my breasts. I need you to know I'm not offended. In fact it was quite the nicest thing any male apart from Bruce has said to me in years. You're a very lovely guy Duke. Bye."
