By Blow and Kiss: The Love Story of a Man with a Bad Name.: (Published serially under the title Unstable as Water)

In Short

Set against the harsh backdrop of the Australian outback during a devastating drought, this novel follows Steve Knight, a capable and charismatic bushman working on a remote station. When a newcomer, Ess Lincoln, arrives, a romance quickly blossoms between them. However, Steve is soon framed for a brutal murder during a wild night in town. Forced to live as a fugitive to escape a corrupt legal system, he must endure severe hardship and false accusations of infidelity while Ess struggles to keep her faith in him. The story endures for its atmospheric depiction of outback life and romantic endurance.

The Story

The narrative begins on a drought-stricken Australian station where the station hands, including the deliberate Scottie Mackellar and the easygoing Steve Knight, struggle to keep their livestock alive. The arrival of Ess Lincoln, Scottie's young niece, brings fresh energy to the remote settlement. Steve quickly takes Ess under his wing, teaching her how to survive the rugged outback environment. As they travel together behind the slowly moving sheep, their shared experiences in the unforgiving landscape kindle a deep mutual affection, and Steve resolves to win her heart.

Tragedy strikes when the men travel to the local township. Following a chaotic night of drinking and wild antics, a bitter town confrontation ends in the death of a man whose neck is broken. Believing the police will hang him regardless of the truth, Steve flees into the surrounding hills to live as an outlaw. Before leaving, he confesses his love to Ess, who promises to keep her faith in him despite his sudden fugitive status.

Steve's absence creates an opportunity for a rival suitor, Ned Gunliffe. Driven by jealousy, Ned pursues Ess and attempts to undermine her trust in Steve. When Ned orchestrates a scene to make it appear that Steve has been harboring another woman in a secluded bush hut, Ess is overwhelmed by doubt, leaving her heart broken.

Nature soon intervenes as the severe drought yields to torrential rains. The rising waters trigger dangerous flash floods across the region. Dolly Grey attempts to drive Ess to safety in a buggy, but they become trapped by swirling billabongs and are forced to take refuge in a tree as the floodwaters sweep away cattle and debris. Steve and the other station hands mount a perilous rescue mission, battling the currents to save Ess and Dolly before their tree collapses.

Meanwhile, back in town, the true circumstances of the killing come to light. A dying woman confesses to Mrs. Dan, the local policeman's wife, that she struck the man herself during a domestic quarrel, causing him to fall and break his own neck. Her signed confession fully exonerates Steve.

With his name cleared, Steve returns to Ess. Mrs. Dan helps Ess realize the extent of Steve's past selflessness, explaining how he once risked everything to save a child's life. Ess comes to understand why Steve could not explain the presence of the woman in the hut without endangering others. Reunited beside the swollen river, the lovers reconcile, putting the pain of their past misunderstandings behind them.

How It Unfolds

Life on the Ridge The station hands endure a relentless dry spell, working long days in the saddle while eating their meals in a suffocatingly hot hut. News arrives that young Ess Lincoln has arrived at the house, sparking lively curiosity and lighthearted banter among the men.

Into the Mulga Steve guides Ess through the bush as they move the starving sheep toward higher ground to feed on mulga branches. He teaches her how to handle a whip and pack a light swag, and the two grow close during the journey.

Trouble in Town After laboring to get the livestock through the boundary fences, the drovers celebrate in town with rowdy races and heavy drinking. A coarse remark in the local bar sparks a furious brawl that leaves a local man dead.

A Flight for Freedom Knowing the evidence looks grim, Steve chooses to flee into the hills as a hunted outlaw rather than face a biased court. He bids a painful farewell to Ess, swearing his innocence and declaring his love for her.

Doubt and Deception Ned Gunliffe presses his own romantic suit on Ess, but she rejects him, declaring her heart belongs to another. Seeking to destroy her devotion, Ned leads Ess to a hut where he claims Steve is hiding with another woman, badly shaking Ess's trust.

The Flood Rises The long drought ends with torrential rains, causing the local billabongs and rivers to burst their banks. Ess and Dolly Grey find themselves trapped on high ground, forced to climb a tree as floodwaters roll over the plains carrying dead livestock and debris.

Truth Restored A dying local woman confesses to Mrs. Dan that she accidentally caused the fatal fall, clearing Steve of all guilt. Reunited after the floodwaters recede, Steve and Ess address their past doubts and embrace a shared future.

The People

• Steve Knight is a skilled, charismatic bushman who wants to clear his name and build a life with the woman he loves. Stood in his way is a wrongful murder accusation and the harsh life of a fugitive, but he eventually matures into a steadfast partner who chooses honor over self-justification.
• Ess Lincoln is an adaptable young woman from the city who wants to understand the outback and remain true to her feelings. Her primary obstacle is the mounting circumstantial evidence against Steve, which tests her faith until she learns the full truth and embraces life in the bush.
• Ned Gunliffe is a station hand who wants Ess's affection for himself. Prevented by Ess's devotion to Steve, he lets jealousy drive him to manipulate situations and expose Steve's hidden retreat, ending up bitter and rejected.
• Mrs. Dan is a pragmatic policeman's wife who wants justice served for innocent people. Hindered by her husband's official duties, she records a crucial deathbed confession that clears Steve's name.

In Its Own Voice

“We’re to start cutting the mulga trees for the sheep to-morrow,” he said when he came back.

Steve arrives at the mess hall after a long day in the saddle to deliver practical updates on the station's desperate effort to feed the starving stock.

“Ess, if you knew what it means to me. If you knew what I feel to know that I’m going to be hunted like a wild dingo with a price on his scalp...”

Facing imminent pursuit by the police for a crime he did not commit, Steve expresses his anguish to Ess before fleeing into the hills.

“And once—oh, ever so long ago, in another world it must have been... someone told me that a blow was never struck that could not be wiped out by a kiss, given and taken.”

Ess reflects on forgiveness as she reconciles with Steve by the river after their long separation.

What It's Really About

At its core, the novel explores the tension between summary frontier justice and actual moral integrity. It asks whether a man's reputation defined by rumor can withstand the brutal scrutiny of a tight-knit community. The story contrasts the harsh, unyielding nature of the Australian landscape—where extreme drought gives way to destructive flood—with the volatile emotions of the people who inhabit it. Trust serves as the central thematic battleground: Ess must learn that true loyalty requires faith that goes beyond surface appearances, while Steve learns that running away from suspicion often compounds misunderstanding. Ultimately, the narrative asserts that true character is revealed not through smooth circumstances, but through perseverance during life's severe trials.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic frontier adventure, romantic suspense, and vividly drawn bush settings will find much to enjoy in this tale. Boyd Cable captures the sensory reality of early twentieth-century Australia, from the choking red dust of driven herds to the sudden, violent roar of outback river floods. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, balancing lighthearted camp humor among the drovers with high-stakes melodrama.

Modern readers should be prepared for period-specific elements, including traditional gender roles, occasional romantic melodrama, and regional vernacular spoken by the station hands. The dialogue relies heavily on working-class Australian and Scottish speech patterns, which takes a moment to tune into. However, the authentic descriptions of survival in the bush, combined with the genuine warmth between the central characters, make it a compelling historical romance. The image of drovers battling the elements to protect both their stock and each other leaves a lasting impression.