Like Twigs in a Storm

by Ross Richdale

  "Sure, Lavina," Donna said, shivering.

  "Tell Cathy what's happened. If she can't get Steve on the mobile phone she should ring Mr. McPherson and tell him we'll need another adult to help carry Janice out."

  "Fine, Lavina but you keep the torch. There's enough light to see." Before Lavina could protest, Donna placed the torch in her hand and was gone.

  Lavina stared at Janice's pale face and pinched lips. Lavina wiped a cold hand over her brow, sat beside her adversary and gave an inward sigh.

  "Tell me, Janice, " she asked in a quiet voice. "Why did you come down here, anyway?"

  *

  CHAPTER 12

  After Donna disappeared, silence settled over the cave with only the quiet chatter of water running unseen beneath the log they were sitting on. Lavina switched the torch off and, as her eyes adjusted to the gloom, features of the surrounding area came to life.

  "Look," she whispered, giving Janice a brush on the arm.

  In the ceiling above thousands of tiny dots of blue lights glowed, more numerous than stars on a cloudless night. With the darkness and silence, tiny glowworms had begun to switch on.

  "When Cathy was younger we used to come down here just to see them. She used to make up little stories of tiny fairies."

  "Tell me, is Cathy good company?"

  Lavina could only see the outline of her head in the gloom. "Yes. She was the only person that kept me going over the last five years. After the school closed, we sent her off to Emerson as a boarder. She was only eleven at the time and it was as if my arm had been ripped off. I was so lonely here on the farm and Grant was no help."

  "You were his second wife. If you don't mind me asking, what were the circumstances?"

  Lavina felt annoyed for a second but her companion's tone somehow sounded as if she needed reassurance and wasn't just being nosy. The woman was slumped against the wall with her head back gazing at the glowworms. In profile, she was an attractive person with shoulder length brown hair hanging over her face.

  Of course, Lavina thought, Grant always went for the young slim attractive ones. She wondered why women were taken in by him. After all, his once masculine frame had turned to fat years ago and his hair had receded. She shuddered. It didn't matter any more. He was gone and she had Steve.

  "I'm sorry," said Janice who had taken Lavina's silence for disapproval. "It's none of my business."

  "No, I was just daydreaming. I had Cathy on the way. Grant's wife had walked out on him and we were married. That's what young ladies in the conservative country districts did in those days." She continued with a brief description of hers and Cathy's life, a little about the school before it closed and comments about the farm.

  Without warning, Janice burst into tears; long tortured sobs with her body shaking in the darkness.

  "What's wrong?"

  "I was carrying Grant's child," Janice managed to get out between the sobs. "On that Sunday I told him and he just called me a bloody little trollop who couldn't protect myself. The bastard never considered it was his responsibility, too." Her voice broke again and her head dropped. Lavina placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You must hate me."

  "No. To tell you the truth I hardly know you, Janice. But from what I hear now, I think you're a very lonely and desperate young lady. How old are you?"

  "Twenty," the girl sobbed.

  "The age I was when Cathy was born."

  The young woman continued to sob quietly. Lavina thought back to the conversation and couldn't help comparing Janice to herself at the same age. She too, had come from a conservative rural family, had no companionship and had been taken in by Grant's masculine charms, the facade of money and a flashy vehicle. Then Cathy was on the way. She thought back to the conversation. Janice had talked in the past tense about her pregnancy.

  "Are you still carrying the baby?"

  "No," snivelled Janice. "You don't have to worry about your daughter having a half brother or sister. I solved that part of it."

  "When?" Lavina's voice was full of empathy.

  "Just after Grant's funeral." Janice blew her nose on a wet handkerchief and the quiver in her voice subsided. "I thought I could get on with my life."

  “But it hasn't worked out that way?"

  "No. My father booted me out when he heard of my affair with Grant. He said he didn't want a slut in the family. I never even told him about the pregnancy. I told nobody, except Grant and now you."

  "And your mother?"

  "She died when I was fifteen. Poor Mum. She had a hard life. My father was so religious it became an obsession with him. I left home as soon as I could and only came back in the varsity holidays because I felt sorry for Dad." She shrugged. "Damned if I know why. He'll never change, now." She turned and her eyes looked white in the gloom. "This morning I was depressed and drove out to the district. I was going to visit Dad but chickened out and continued up the road. I parked at your place and walked across the farm. When I saw the quad bike chugging up the track I didn't want company so came down here. I've been here in the summer with Grant..." She heaved a sigh. "We'd meet here on a Sunday afternoon and... well you know."

  "That sounds like him."

  "Yes it was strange, somehow," Janice continued. "All my life Sunday meant going to church, sometimes twice, and having a dinner that Mum slaved over while Dad just read the paper in the front room. And there I was only a few years later being screwed by a local farmer almost every Sunday. In my twisted mind it seemed sort of revenge or something..." She sniffed again. "You wouldn't understand."

  "Oh, I think I do," Lavina said. "If you'd met someone like Steve instead of my husband you'd probably be very happy now. It's not your fault he was such a bastard. You'll meet someone, Janice. You're young, educated and attractive. One day you'll look back on these days and laugh about it all."

  Janice turned and her eyes met Lavina's. "I know now you couldn't have possibly sabotaged the Cessna, Lavina. But somebody did."

  "How do you know?"

  "I don't really. It's just too much of a coincidence. That Sunday, Grant took me for a short flight and the plane flew perfectly. He rattled on about having just replaced some parts in the engine and how pleased he was with it. He was quite pleasant earlier in the day before I told him of my condition."

  "Forget about all of that now," Lavina said. "We'll get you out of here and you can come up to the house. I'll find you some dry clothes. You're about my size." She laughed.

  "What's so funny?"

  "Oh nothing, " Lavina said chuckling. "Grant just liked woman built like us. You know, slim with ample breasts. The trouble was, I reckon, we had too many brains to go with it."

  Janice also gave a chuckle. "Lavina, thank you. I'm glad we had this chance to talk. I feel so much better now."

  "Even if it is in a freezing dark cave in the middle of winter," the older woman replied. "You know, I'm pleased we spoke, too. Woman's stuff, isn't it?"

  "Yes, woman's stuff," Janice replied and reached out so her cold hand squeezed Lavina's.

  *

  Their solitude was interrupted by an echoing yell up the cave and Donna appeared out of the darkness. She was still saturated but had a broad grin across her face.

  "Steve and Mr. Dey are on their way."

  "Mr. Dey?"

  "You know, Mum, your new worker. He came out on a visit and was talking to Steve."

  More voices and a torch shining in the distance interrupted them. Steve smiled at Lavina sitting safely on the log with drenched hair and soaked clinging clothes.

  "My God," he said, laughing. "You can't keep out of the stuff, can you?"

  "We're bloody cold," retorted Lavina. "Hi, Barrie. It's good to see you again." She nodded to her companion. "Meet Janice."

  "Hi,” Barrie replied, holding a hand out to Janice. "So you're the one with the broken leg."

  "Well not quite,” she replied and her eyes linked with the tall bearded man who was about her own age. "A twisted ankle is
closer to the mark."

  "You were sensible not to try to walk out on it," Barrie said. "In these conditions you could have made it worse."

  Steve gave a concerned look to Lavina. "You okay?"

  "Fine. Only wet and cold. Once we get back to the house we can all dry off and have something hot to eat. I've got that pot of soup simmering away."

  "Right," Steve said. "I reckon if Barrie and I cross arms we can make a seat for Janice to sit on."

  The two men crouched down beside her. She slung her arms around their shoulders and was hoisted between them. Lavina and Donna walked in front to clear away branches and vegetation. Within ten minutes, they were at the bottom of the hillside where they'd first descended.

  The men set Janice to the ground and she hobbled to a rock to sit down. "Thanks, guys."

  Barrie squatted beside her and lifted the leg of her jeans so he could examine the wound. "It looks pretty bruised and swollen," he said. "If you were a horse we'd probably have to shoot you."

  "Thanks!" Janice said with a laugh.

  Barrie stood up. "I'll piggyback you up to the top. The track looks a bit narrow for the two of us to go up side by side."

  The climb up proved no problem. The bedraggled survivors tumbled into the Land Rovers and Steve started up and followed the other vehicle back while Lavina took the opportunity to bring him up to date on what she had learned.

  "I feel sorry for her," she concluded when they were almost back at the house. "She's only a kid really and seems utterly alone."

  "But did have a fling with your husband so she can't be that innocent." Steve said.

  "I know but I like her. She reminded me of myself, somehow."

  Steve drove into the implement shed and stopped, Cathy rushed up and their conversation was broken.

  It was now hot showers and baths with both bathrooms in full use over the next half hour. Finally the girls and Janice emerged with the visitor dressed in Lavina's clothes and using Cathy's crutches to move around. She smiled shyly at everyone and sat down at the kitchen table where Lavina had begun serving the soup. Barrie made a point of sitting opposite her and they soon struck up a conversation about their lives at the university.

  The girls bounced back to life and soon were off into the other room where Steve had his computer so they could surf the Internet.

  "We'll do the dishes," Lavina said. "You two go through into the front room and relax. I'll get you a basin of warm water for your ankle if you wish, Janice."

  "Thank you," Janice said. "I don't think it's too bad; just squashed by the branches and badly bruised."

  "Good." Lavina grinned. "Later, Steve can show Barrie around the farm. You're welcome to stay too if you wish, Janice."

  "I'd like that." Lavina saw the thank you look in Janice's eyes. "I'll need to get my car, though."

  "I'll walk up and get it," offered Barrie. "A walk in the sunshine will be good for me."

  "Everyone's being so considerate," Janice said in a quiet voice. "You're all strangers yet treat me so kindly." She glanced back at Lavina. "Are you sure you don't want help with the dishes?"

  "Go and soak your ankle," Lavina replied. "We've got two teenagers in the other room if we need any help."

  Janice smiled as Barrie held the door open for her as she limped through to the other room.

  "Don't make it too obvious, Miss Match Maker," Steve whispered to Lavina.

  She reached up and kissed Steve. "You should have seen her an hour or so ago. It can't do any harm."

  *

  Just before she left, Janice made a point of finding Lavina alone. "Considering the circumstances this sounds stupid but could we stay in touch? I haven't been able to talk to anyone in years yet this afternoon ..."

  Lavina smiled. "I'll give you our town address and if you don't visit us, I'll be most annoyed," she said. "You'll need to return my clothes, anyway." She squeezed Janice's arms. "Remember to go and get your ankle checked."

  "Barrie said he'd follow me home then take me to the medical centre in town," Janice smiled. "I told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted.”

  "I wonder why!" Lavina chuckled.

  *

  Steve woke in the middle of the night and found Lavina still tucked in his arms. He thought about their love making of a few hours ago and couldn't resist kissing her neck.

  Lavina swung around and sat up.

  "I was thinking," Steve said. "You said you could see no way out of having the farm sold to pay all the debts."

  Lavina switched on the bedside lamp. "Go on," she said.

  "I had a look at those figures and also survey sheets of the farm. You know it's in two titles?"

  "Yes." Lavina yawned and pulled a blanket up under her chin. "The neighbour's farm was sold out about twelve years ago and we bought that top plateau. About sixty acres, I think it was."

  "Would that include the track and cave?"

  "It does, why?"

  "Couldn't you keep that and sell the rest of the farm?"

  "But it wouldn't be profitable by itself."

  "Not as a farm maybe, but that cave would make a great tourist track. We could put a walkway through; people could stay at the school and visit the cave. I found out a bit on those huts near De Wolfe's Plateau, too. Apparently, that bush track we were on is one decommissioned by the government to save money. The huts are officially closed and are up for tender for anyone interested. I know the Deer Stalkers Association bought some."

  "Steve, what are you getting at?"

  "This is a beautiful area of the country but except for the locals, nobody knows about it. We could start off in a small way by using the school as a tourist lodge or perhaps one for school parties, bring them through the cave, visit a sheep farm in operation, fly visitors on scenic flights and..."

  "You're serious, aren't you?"

  "Just thinking." He gave a wicked laugh and rolled towards her. "While I'm thinking..."

  "Steve!" Lavina said as he drew her into an embrace. "Don't you dare..."

  But he did and she responded.

  *

  Janice and Barrie's trip to the medical centre confirmed she had lacerations and a severe ankle sprain but no break. The limb was bandaged and she was loaned a pair of crutches. Afterwards, she accepted Barrie's invitation to supper and a movie, after which they visited a small intimate tavern. By two in the morning they were at her flat.

  She placed mugs of steaming coffee on a small kidney shaped table in the living room. She used the remote to switch on the television, but they both had other thoughts on their mind.

  "No, Barrie," Janice protested as the young man moved beyond an affectionate kiss and began to lift up her jersey.

  "Well, they're Lavina's clothes and you wanted to give them back, anyway."

  "Not while I'm wearing them."

  "Exactly," he replied with a smile and pulled her close.

  *

  CHAPTER 13

  Winter turned to spring and, with it, lambs. One of the main incomes for the farm was the sale of lambs for overseas meat markets. The more lambs safely born and growing, the more profits for the farm. It wasn't that simple, of course. Prices fluctuated from season to season and had been depressed for several years now.

  Barrie had approached his new position with enthusiasm and already the evidence was showing. Lamb percentages, the percentage of live births per ewe, were up ten percent from the last season Grant or, in reality Lavina, ran the farm even though the weather had been cold and drizzling for two weeks.

  Every morning, the young man would be up at dawn to do the lamb beat. He'd walk through the farm, help ewes having birth difficulties, bring home-orphaned lambs and look after the animals. It was often freezing cold out in the exposed paddocks but he would methodically do his rounds and return to the house for a well earned mid morning breakfast.

  Afterwards, in the implement shed, there were two house cows to be milked and ten orphaned lambs in a pen to be fed. Spring was the busiest time of th
e farm year but in many ways, the most rewarding. This was Barrie's chosen life and he was happy.

  Saturday was the big swap day as Lavina called it. By mid-morning Steve, Cathy and Lavina would arrive at the farm and Barrie would have the next thirty hours off. He would return to town to spend time with Janice. Saturday night would be spent at her flat and, after a leisurely Sunday, she would follow him back to the farm in her car. She would return to the city by eleven on Monday morning, the time of her first lecture.

  Although Barrie was living in the house, he insisted that Lavina and her family stay there on Saturday night because, as he said, he really only used half the rooms anyway.

  *

  "Come on, my love," Lavina shook her sleeping partner in the darkness. "Time for the Sunday morning lamb beat. It's raining."

  "Right," Steve muttered. He sat up, yawned and shivered as the blankets fell off.

  "Relax. I'll do it,” Lavina said and sighed as memories returned. "I did it by myself last year. It was so peaceful out there with the solitude."

  Steve leaped out from the sheets and grabbed his warm farm clothes. "We do it together. That's our agreement."

  "Yes dear," Lavina's eyes showed the appreciation she felt.

  Rain beat down on their long oilskin rainwear as the pair walked back across the last paddock towards the house. It had been an easy round with no complicated births. One newborn lamb had been carried into the shelter of some trees with a bleating ewe in hot pursuit and another lost one returned to its mother.

  "We were lucky with the deer," Lavina commented as she opened the massive double sized gate so they could enter a deer paddock.

  "We were," Steve agreed.

  The entire deer herd was sold to a farmer wanting to rebuild his own stock. The price was less than Grant had paid for the animals a season before but far higher than if they had to be sold in smaller units.

  "And what are you going to do with these massive fences?" Steve nodded at the three-meter high enclosure they were now in.

  "Barrie thinks he can come to terms with the guy who bought the deer." She wiped rain off her ruby cheeks and smiled. "Barrie's turned into quite an astute business man."