An Uncommon Woman

by Nicole Alexander

  ‘Then you should have done so,’ answered Edwina. ‘There were things that needed to be attended to, such as the debt owed by the Ridgeways, which has been paid, Father. And as I recall, Aiden, you didn’t even offer to accompany me. So I’m sorry for your anger, but what’s done is done.’

  ‘Father?’ queried Aiden. ‘Father, tell Edwina to stop bossing me around. It’s not right.’

  The two of them were like the polar caps. One north, the other south. Each pulled by a force that neither could control let alone comprehend. They were arguing now. Aiden’s voice hard and angry, Edwina’s patient, perhaps a little bored. He’d missed their growing. Specifically his daughter’s. He could see how she could catch the eye of a grazier, even one as unlikeable as Charles Ridgeway. There was a spirit to her. A knowing. Troublesome characteristics for a female, but women could be moulded. There was time, for both of his children, and still much for them to learn. A lifetime really. And, although it went against everything he knew and believed, for the time being Edwina was the one to take control of the business. Giving her the responsibility would bring her back to his side and eradicate the nonsense ideas and, hopefully, behaviour of the past weeks. Yes, the girl had strayed, done wrong, pushed at boundaries that were not meant to be assaulted, but hers was the stronger intellect. Edwina’s success in recouping the debt owed proved her ability and he believed after everything that had transpired that she would not do anything foolhardy now. For the girl was in charge, for the time being. As for Ridgeway, if Edwina could capture the interest of one pastoralist after the circus debacle, there would be others. All was not lost.

  ‘Leave her be, Aiden,’ ordered Hamilton.

  His son’s jaw trembled. ‘But –’

  ‘Leave Edwina be.’ Hamilton urged to say what he thought but his ability to draw the words forth at will remained limited. It was as if his brain slept, only waking to allow the utterance of the barest snippets. Surely it was unnecessary to speak the obvious. The boy played a part in his care and the sister attended to business; for the time being things should stay as they were. Hamilton expected Aiden to mount an argument, to put up more of a battle – as his only son it was his right.

  ‘Very well,’ retorted Aiden stiffly, ‘if that is your wish.’ He glared at his sister and then left the room, furious.

  The boy had no idea how much he was like his mother. Caroline was never one for confrontation. Hamilton shut his eyes against the disappointment. He was still so very tired. One side of his body refused to function properly, lagging behind like an irritated child.

  ‘He will not forgive me, Father,’ Edwina said softly.

  Hamilton yawned.

  ‘I should let you rest,’ continued his daughter, ‘but I wanted to ask you if you can remember anything of what happened? If you can remember who attacked you?’

  He looked at Edwina. The incident remained a blur.

  ‘Because I think we know who did it and Davidson has seen to the person responsible so you don’t have to worry about anything.’

  Hamilton scowled, the skin puckering around the workable side of his face. The man wasn’t even there, he wanted to tell her, and if he couldn’t recall who confronted him how was it possible that Davidson could? ‘Who?’

  ‘It seems it was Mr Fernleigh.’

  Hamilton’s assumption had been correct, but what of Davidson’s role in this, he wondered. Had the stockman warned him off his land, given him a belting? He hoped he had.

  Edwina took his hand, patted it, as a mother would to placate a child. ‘Can I get you anything?’

  ‘Youth,’ stuttered Hamilton.

  ‘How about some of Han Lee’s tea instead?’ Her smile was warm.

  ‘Run things,’ Hamilton strained to get the words out, ‘p-properly.’

  ‘I am my father’s daughter. How could I do anything else?’ Edwina replied.

  Hamilton watched the girl leave. There was pride, but in the pit of his stomach, something else, the beginnings of a knot.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Ten days later Edwina carried the mail into the study and closed the door. The newspaper was nearly a week old. She flipped through the pages, searching for any reports of untimely deaths. Page four made mention of Hamilton Baker’s attack of the palsy. It was an insignificant article of a half dozen lines placed above the obituaries section as if queuing for inclusion. Next to it was a short piece on Mr Fernleigh. Edwina read the contents of the article quickly. Ridgeway Station’s manager was still reported as missing, the journalist pondering on the man’s fate and whether a body would ever be found.

  The remaining mail consisted of two telegrams. Edwina lay both side by side. Compressed her lips and then opened the first.

  It was from Luke Gordon. Her offer for Condo Station had been accepted. The paperwork was on its way to the solicitor’s office in Wywanna, with Luke acting as guarantor for the sale. Luke’s final sentence,

  The deposit must be paid on signing. With a further six weeks before the full amount is due. Congratulations.

  Edwina read and re-read the two sentences. It seemed to her that life was about to begin such was her excitement. The cable was a few days old. She’d not even inspected the property. Luke’s word, his encouragement and support were enough.

  Did she dare? Arriving home from Wywanna after meeting Luke, it had taken all of Edwina’s strength not to conceal her shock at her father’s improvement. To find him in the parlour, sitting upright, talking, limited though it was, had stunned her. The shame came immediately, her quickness to act, the searching of personal documents, the intent. Edwina came close to immediately returning to town, finding Luke and abandoning everything they’d discussed. But she didn’t. Instead, Edwina waited.

  One side of her father’s body was sluggish and the drooping face remained, along with the slurred, imperfect speech and stumbling walk, and yet he appeared to be gaining strength. Well enough to resume lending money in the New Year? To take back the reins of a property on which they were slowly going broke? In her heart Edwina doubted it. And then there was Aiden and the problems she envisaged once he was in charge.

  Edwina’s fingers tapped the desktop. The thought of owning a large station out west gripped at her imagination like nothing else. To run such an entity. To be counted among the pastoralists of Queensland. To be assisted by none other than Luke Gordon. Who wouldn’t say yes to such an opportunity? Edwina glanced at the door. Outside her father sat dozing in the parlour. How desperately she wanted to tell him the news. To explain what she was on the verge of accomplishing. Surely he would be proud. For wasn’t this what he aspired to? Acceptance. Esteem. Success.

  Did Edwina cross her fingers and go ahead? Justify her actions through her father’s recent approval? And then tell him her great news when he was a little more recovered? There was only one thing needed: confirmation of the extent of the share portfolio.

  Outside Aiden’s voice was unnecessarily loud. ‘I don’t care what my sister told you. Today we’re going to … Wait, where are you going? Come back here, Davidson. I said come back here. Damn and blast.’

  How did you explain to someone that out here respect was earnt? Rising to lock the study door, Edwina hovered as the now familiar rap sounded.

  ‘Edwina? Edwina, open the door. I said open this door right now. Davidson won’t listen to anything I say anymore.’

  ‘I’m busy, Aiden. Why don’t you go and check the Ridgeway boundary?’

  ‘And be shot by that hairy galoot? No thanks. Why don’t you go out there instead?’

  ‘I did,’ said Edwina patiently through the timber, ‘yesterday. And there was no sign of Fernleigh. There hasn’t been since his disappearance and the paper says he is still missing.’

  Having agreed to never mention Fernleigh’s name again, the only thing they’d come to an understanding on, Aiden quieted. ‘Fine. I’ll go to the well and fill the barrels.’

  A few minutes later her brother rode away.

  E
dwina tore the second wire open with shaking hands. It was from the Brisbane-based broker and her eyes widened at the detailed contents, a list of companies that matched those found in her father’s saddlebag. Edwina gasped. They were beyond wealthy. They were rich. Eyes blurring, she set the cable on the desk and wept. To be living such an existence only to discover their lives needn’t be so hard was almost too much.

  A rainbow of glistening possibility presented itself and Edwina’s imaginings took on an entirely different direction. Brisbane beckoned. A house on the river. Fine clothes. Domestics to deal with the drudgery. Such a future tempted and tantalised. The telegraph from Luke Gordon lay open on the desk. It wasn’t too late to cancel the purchase of Condo Station.

  Folding the cable, Edwina ran a finger along the crease.

  Would a citified life suit? The land was all she knew and understood and if Edwina were honest it was not the manual labour that most bothered her. The lack of interest in her opinion was what hurt. The belief that, as a woman, she was less than a man. That wounded the greatest.

  Edwina slipped the broker’s cable inside its envelope. The shares belonged to her father. Pounds and shillings squirrelled away. Hidden from his children. Money he clearly didn’t want them to know about. Let alone have. Hamilton Baker could keep it then. When combined with the stocks, the price of Condo Station didn’t even amount to a sixth share. One day her brother would be a wealthy man and he’d undoubtedly lose what remained of their father’s hoard. When that happened, Aiden would be pleased to have a sister he could come to.

  It was decided then. She would choose the road less travelled.

  ‘Hello?’

  Recognising the voice, Edwina gathered the mail, sliding it into a drawer. Through the window Mason could be seen standing outside the front door.

  Edwina’s first thoughts were of the manager, Fernleigh. She wiped suddenly clammy hands on her skirt. ‘Mason?’

  Turning at his name, he walked the length of the verandah to the office. ‘Do I have to come in there or will you come out?’

  Edwina didn’t have a chance to reply for Mason reached through the window where she’d been leaning and, gathering her in his arms, pulled Edwina through the opening before setting her on the ground.

  ‘We do have doors,’ she stated indignantly, pulling free of his grasp.

  ‘Last time I used the door here it wasn’t a good ending,’ he replied with less enthusiasm than he’d arrived with.

  ‘Whatever are you talking about?’ Edwina was annoyed by his manhandling and equally worried by his visit.

  ‘Nothing. I thought I’d find you looking pleased as Punch,’ he said a little more brightly. ‘A woman buying a station, and not just any woman either, a young single woman.’

  Edwina shushed him. ‘How did you find out?’ she whispered.

  ‘Luke Gordon,’ replied Mason with a laugh at her secrecy. ‘We’ve been doing some business together. And his half-brother, Angus, is my godfather. My mother thought it would be better to have someone closer to my own age.’

  ‘Your godfather?’ Mason knew everything then, including that Hamilton Baker was yet to learn of his daughter’s activities. ‘No-one is meant to know anything about it. Luke promised.’

  ‘Luke and Angus have no secrets. With the size of their empire, they can’t afford to. And I won’t say anything. Walk with me.’ He held out a hand, which Edwina ignored as they stepped onto the grass. ‘When will you tell your father?’

  ‘Nothing’s been decided.’ Chickens and turkeys scattered from their path as Edwina strode ahead, her blue skirt catching on the grass. Among the silvery gums a sleeping Jed lay curled at the base of a thick trunk.

  ‘Luke thinks it’s a done deal.’ Mason leant against one of the trees. ‘Have you got cold feet? I wouldn’t blame you. It’s a massive undertaking for a woman, if that’s your intention to live up there and manage it yourself.’

  ‘Did Luke send you over here to check on me?’

  ‘Of course not,’ answered Mason. ‘I thought you’d be happy to share the news with someone. How is your father?’

  ‘Getting better slowly.’

  ‘I’d like to be a fly on the wall when you tell him about the property.’

  So he’d come to hear about her plans, a proposal that was yet to be confirmed, which meant he suspected nothing regarding Fernleigh. Edwina decided not to mention the manager’s name. ‘Can we talk about something else, Mason?’

  ‘Sure.’ He rubbed a hand over the bark of the gum tree. ‘Whatever happens, will you be staying here then?’

  Why was he asking her so many questions? ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘You’re not giving much away, Edwina. Next you’ll be telling me to mind my own business.’

  ‘Yes,’ admitted Edwina, ‘something like that.’

  ‘You’ll find the timing a bit off, but this has nothing to do with your news, Edwina. I wanted to ask you something. I would have asked you the day you came to the station but you left so quickly.’

  ‘I’m intrigued.’ However, it was difficult not to be irritated. The land purchase was the biggest event of Edwina’s life and it was already being discussed before papers were even signed.

  Mason studied the distant wheat and then turned to face her. ‘Will you walk out with me? Well, ride out I guess, considering where we live.’ He gave a wry grin. ‘Maybe we could go to Wywanna for the day. There’s a café there. Admittedly, it’s not very good … Or we could have a picnic by the creek. Anything you like. What do you think?’

  It was a day for surprises. Edwina was lost for words. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘You probably thought me very forward the other week when you came to the station, behaving the way I did,’ acknowledged Mason.

  ‘A little, yes,’ she confessed, remembering the kiss they shared.

  ‘It’s just when I put my mind to something I tend to act on it.’ He knelt down and ruffled Jed’s head; the dog yawned. ‘I’d like to see more of you. Get to know you.’

  Edwina was pleased Mason couldn’t see her expression. ‘Because of my buying the property?’

  He faced her abruptly, concern in his eyes. ‘You didn’t listen to anything I just said. No, Edwina, because of you.’

  ‘Oh.’ This was unexpected. Edwina walked away through the trees. She couldn’t deny that Mason had been in her thoughts, as had Will; however, between the two men it was Mason that fought for prominence. But both failed to win against the prospect of owning Condo Station and the planning required once it was in her hands. There was no doubting her liking of Mason. He was strong and confident and yet quiet and thoughtful and he appeared to appreciate her ability. The question was did she want to go out with him? Especially now when everything was about to change. Once Condo Station was legally hers, Edwina intended to go there and inspect the property with Luke. Perhaps even stay on for a few months to meet the new manager. It all depended on her father’s reaction to the purchase, which could go either way.

  ‘Edwina?’ called Mason.

  Retracing her steps, Edwina returned to the man waiting for an answer. Edwina wanted to say yes, but did she really want to get entangled in a friendship, a relationship? Walking out with someone invariably led to marriage and no matter how much she liked Mason, Edwina knew that she just couldn’t go back to being at the beck and call of a man, nor was the role of wife something she felt she was suited to. There was a new world waiting for her, fresh opportunities. A chance to prove her ability. The timing was just horrid. ‘I really don’t know anything about you, Mason. I don’t even know your surname.’

  ‘I know, and I have some explaining to do. I need to tell you some things. Things about myself that I should have said before. I don’t know why I didn’t.’ He held her gaze. ‘The right moment never came up, I suppose, and ever since we met you seem to have had a bee in your bonnet about Charles Ridgeway.’

  Edwina didn’t understand. ‘What’s he got to do with anything?’

  ‘P
romise you’ll listen to what I have to say.’

  What was this secret causing the line on his forehead to deepen? ‘Mason, things are changing every day for me. I don’t even know if I’ll be staying here.’

  ‘That’s not a definite no.’ Mason took a step towards her. ‘Are you telling me that a woman who buys a property doesn’t know what she wants?’

  Edwina knew that look in his eyes. ‘I haven’t bought it yet.’ She took a step backwards. He another step forwards.

  ‘Let’s seal our agreement then,’ he extended a hand, ‘that you’ll be neighbourly and allow me to at least get to know you a little better.’

  There was no harm in that, decided Edwina as she reached out to shake his hand. Mason pulled her into his arms, holding her close. ‘I don’t do anything half-heartedly, Edwina. You should know that.’

  She took a breath, her first impulse to struggle. In its place she met his demanding gaze, allowed the tightening of the embrace. ‘Neither do I,’ she countered. Mason lifted an eyebrow in response. Inexplicably Edwina tilted her head forwards, closing her eyes.

  ‘What’s going on here?’

  They broke apart as her father shuffled along the verandah, a rifle in his grasp. At the kitchen window Constance ducked out of sight. Edwina felt Mason tense.

  ‘Father, everything is alright,’ she replied as they both approached the house. ‘This is Mason. He’s a friend of Charles Ridgeway,’ she explained, knowing her father would be delighted at any interest shown in his daughter. ‘My friend.’

  ‘Mason? I know him as Charles. Charles Ridgeway. I’ll ask you, boy, to step away from my daughter.’ Although shaky, Hamilton lifted the rifle.

  Edwina grew pale. ‘What? No. That’s impossible. You’re Mason, Charles’ friend.’

  ‘Tell her, Ridgeway. If she knew who you really were she wouldn’t set foot near you.’

  ‘That’s not true,’ said Mason angrily. ‘My friends call me Mason, Edwina. It’s my middle name. That’s what I wanted to tell you.’