Ellie dug in her heels as her horse finally reached the other side. She urged him up the steep slope, yelling encouragement, shifting her weight from his back in an effort to get him up. The animal slid and propped and tossed his head. Ellie clung to his back, her muscles quivering from the effort of staying on board. She was wet through and shivering so badly she could barely hold the reins as the horse beneath her struggled to fight its way out of the water and up the mud. Then with a mighty surge, the animal stretched his neck and his weary legs and reached the relative safety of the grass bank.
Ellie sat there for a moment to get her breath as the horse’s great lungs heaved. The ring of pain had ebbed and the baby had finally stopped squirming, but now she was sweating despite the chill of the rain and her sodden clothes. This probably wasn’t doing either of them any good, she thought crossly, but at least it was better than sitting about the homestead getting fat and lazy.
‘Are you all right?’ demanded Aurelia emerging from the gloom.
‘Fine,’ she replied. ‘Let’s get this lot out of here.’
The bullocks strung out before them as they were herded towards the higher pastures and as the gloom of the day finally surrendered to night the wet and weary men and women headed for home. The bullocks were safe, but if this rain carried on there would have to be another muster to take the cows and calves further north to the hill pastures.
Ellie was exhausted, but she did her best to hide it from Aurelia. Stripping off her wet clothes and muddy boots, she was soon wrapped in a warm towel and old sweater, her feet immersed in a basin of hot water Wang Lee had brought from the kitchen. A cup of strong, sweet tea with a dash of whisky soon put them both to rights and they sat cocooned in the broken down old couch watching the rain outside the window.
The sound of a straining engine broke through the drum of the rain and they went out to the verandah and peered into the darkness. ‘Who the hell’s that?’ snapped Aurelia as she quickly grabbed a coat. ‘What a bloody silly time to come visiting.’
The utility ground to a halt in a damp slosh of mud encrusted tyres. The wipers were making hard work of clearing the torrent that ran down the windscreen and the tarpaulin stretched across the utility’s flat bed was bulging from the miniature lake that had gathered there. The driver’s door creaked open on complaining hinges and their visitor climbed out.
‘Father Reilly?’ Ellie drew the old blanket closely around her as the chill of foreboding made her tremble. The priest only came when there was bad news. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked sharply.
He climbed the steps, his mud-splattered soutane clinging damply to his ankles. ‘I’m thinking the rain waits for me to come to Warratah,’ he said in his Irish lilt. ‘Tis the very divil on the old arthritis.’
Ellie shook his hand numbly. If there was bad news then she wanted to hear it, not go through the rigmarole of polite talk. Then she became aware of the slam of another utility door. Of the splash of someone running through the mud and rain to the verandah. Of footsteps thudding on the steps.
*
‘Reckon that’s where I came in.’ The deep voice from the doorway made them turn.
‘Dad,’ said the girls in unison as they rushed to greet him.
‘G’day darlin’,’ said Ellie as he finally left the girls and came to her side. ‘I knew you’d make it in time.’
He kissed her cheek and perched on the arm of the chair. ‘I was real sorry to hear about Aurelia,’ he said softly. ‘She was a bonzer lady.’
‘Mum was just telling us about how you two got together,’ said Claire with a shyness that Ellie found touching and unusual.
Ellie looked up at him. There was grey in the dark hair now, and deeply etched lines cobwebbing the corners of his eyes and mouth – but he was still the most handsome man she’d ever known. ‘They know the full story,’ she said softly as she saw the question in his eyes. ‘I was just about to tell them how you swept me off my feet that dark rainy night.’
He sank into the chair, squashing her to him. ‘Better finish it then. Aurelia always did love happy endings.’
Ellie smiled back at him. ‘I can remember so well how you looked that night,’ she said. ‘You were bareheaded, your hair plastered down by the rain.’ She ran a finger along his stubbled jaw. ‘You even had the same six o’clock shadow – but then it emphasised how pale you were, how ill you’d been.’
‘I asked you if you could forgive such a bloody idiot,’ Joe said softly. You came to me as if in a trance and looked into my face. You must have seen how much I loved you, because you said you would.’
They were silent as they looked into one another’s eyes and remembered. His lips had sought hers and they had kissed. Tasting the sweetness of each other that neither of them had forgotten over the years, they felt the power of their love through the electricity of their touch. Ellie had thought she could hear the siren song of hope that had kept him alive so he could return to her. She had waited so long for this moment that now it had arrived she wanted it to go on for ever.
The giggles drew them from their silent memories, and they both blushed as they realised their daughters were finding it all rather funny. ‘Everything went hell west and crooked after that,’ said Ellie as she smoothed her hand over her crumpled skirt and looked back into the past. ‘The pain came without warning. Hot, fast and as sharp as the lash of a stock whip.’
*
Ellie gasped and drew away from him, bending towards the pain, holding the swell of her belly protectively in her hands. The pain was unremitting. It encircled her, held on, and squeezed with remorseless determination.
‘Ellie? Ellie what’s wrong?’ Joe shouted. He was on his knees before her, looking up into her face as he grabbed her arms.
‘Baby’s coming,’ she said through gritted teeth. Another pain, stronger than the last tore through her and she leaned against the verandah railings and groaned as sweat rolled down her face. ‘Get Aurelia,’ she gasped.
‘Not until you say you’ll marry me,’ he said urgently.
The pain ebbed and Ellie panted. ‘This isn’t quite what I had in mind for a proposal,’ she said on the edge of hysteria. ‘Are you sure about this? I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me? Let alone the baby.’
‘Jack and the doctor explained everything, and once I’d got my blasted memory back I realised what a complete drongo I’d been. I knew you couldn’t have betrayed me, and I love you too much to let you go through this alone. It doesn’t matter what happened before. We have the rest of our lives to live – together – I have no future without you.’ He gripped her hands as he knelt before her. ‘Ellie, will you marry me? Will you please spend the rest of your life with this idiot man who loves you more than he’d ever thought possible?’
Another pain, stronger than the last began to encircle her. She was elated and excited but above all in agony. ‘Yes,’ she gasped through the tears of joy and pain. ‘Yes, yes, yes. Now bugger off and get Aurelia.’
He kissed her cheek before slamming through the screen doors calling for her aunt. Within moments she found herself being led slowly to the bedroom and the soft comfort of pillows and a feather mattress. Joe held her hand and she clung to him, driving her nails into him as the pain clenched and rolled remorselessly to its climax. ‘I brought the priest with me so we could do this now,’ he said urgently. ‘We must give our child a name.’
Ellie looked at him through bleary eyes as the pain began to ebb. ‘Now?’ she gasped. ‘I’m in the middle of giving birth and you want us to get married now?’
His hand gripped hers. ‘This baby will be ours,’ he said firmly. ‘If I’m to be a father today then I want to be married to the mother of our child.’ He stroked the damp hair from her forehead as another pain rose and ebbed. ‘Do you love me, Ellie? Do you trust me to take care of you and the little one and to love our baby with no reservations?’
‘Of course I do,’ she whispered in the lull of her labour pains. Then
the ridiculous situation made her giggle. ‘But this isn’t exactly the wedding I’ve been planning all these years. I wanted a white dress and flowers, a church and a beautiful veil – not a smelly old horse blanket, an ancient sweater and so much pain I’m going to start screeching any minute.’
The priest hovered into view as Aurelia shoved him into the room. The bible was open in his hands. ‘I’m thinking this will have to be kept short,’ he said blushing profusely. ‘Seems the new arrival’s in a bit of a hurry.’
‘Get on with it then,’ grunted Ellie as she puffed and panted and tried to find a comfortable spot on the bed to ease the fresh onslaught of pain.
It was the strangest wedding ceremony any of them had attended. Aurelia and Wang Lee watched on one side of the bed, Joe held Ellie’s hand on the other as she struggled to give birth. Father Reilly kept his eyes firmly on his bible as Joe slipped the gold ring on her finger and she yelled in agony and began to bear down.
‘I pronounce you man and wife,’ Father Reilly declared hurriedly. He was obviously desperate to leave the room and was already half-way out of the door as he said, ‘You may kiss the bride.’
Ellie grabbed Joe’s hand. ‘That’ll have to wait,’ she grunted. ‘Cos the baby won’t. It’s coming. Now.’
Aurelia and Wang Lee took charge. Joe was shooed from the room and Aurelia swiftly dealt with the new arrival. Within minutes she had the squalling infant wrapped tightly in a white blanket and nestled in her arms. She looked at Ellie with a broad grin as if she’d done all the hard work herself. ‘Good thing I had plenty of practice with the calves,’ she declared.
Ellie took the tiny bundle in her arms as Joe came tearing back into the room. Tears pricked as she looked down at the tiny scrap whose hair was as soft and golden as an angel’s wing, and whose lust for life could probably be heard as far as the Territory. She felt Joe’s arm around her shoulders, his butterfly kiss on her cheek and when she looked up into the emerald eyes she saw the love and wonderment there she’d waited for over so many harrowing years. ‘We have a daughter,’ she whispered.
EPILOGUE
Despite the distances involved, there was a good turnout for Aurelia’s funeral. People arrived from their isolated stations to pay their final respects to a woman who had become a legend in the outback. A woman who’d shown great courage and fortitude; a woman who had survived some of the harshest years, but who had never lost her sense of fair play or her sense of humour.
The small cemetery was shimmering in the heat as the coffin was lowered into the rich red soil of Warratah. Aurelia would lie beside her beloved Jack, but Ellie had the strongest sense that they were already together. A warm breeze tinkled the little bells that marked Wang Lee’s final resting place, reminding them that the spirit of those they loved still lived on in this far northern reach of Queensland.
Ellie stood beside Joe, her arm linked with his, garnering strength from him as she always did. She looked across at her daughters and felt the warmth of promise. Claire had shown great strength of character in the past few hours, and she knew her first-born would not let the shadow of her beginnings darken her future. For standing beside her was Matt Derwent, tousle haired, strong and purposeful – a man of the outback – a man like Joe. They would see their plans for a flying veterinary service come to fruition, for Claire had finally realised this was where she belonged. Leanne stood within the circle of Angel’s arm, obviously in love and content now she and her fiery husband had ironed out their differences. She would be busy with her plans for Jarrah – Angel kept occupied by his exhausting round. Yet, Ellie had a feeling Angel was made of sterner stuff than they’d once thought. He might appreciate an attractive woman, but he’d assured Leanne that was as far as it went and he would do nothing to harm their relationship. She smiled to herself despite the solemn occasion. Aurelia would approve of both matches. At heart she was as romantic as poor Lila down at Threeways.
She looked up at Joe and their eyes met. The shadows were receding, and like the outback after the rain, life would pick up again. Summer was here and the wild flowers were already carpeting the pastures with their bright colours. The seasons would come and go and Warratah and Jarrah would blossom. All was right with her world, for Aurelia would always be with her – her guiding hand for ever there.
The ceremony was finally over and as everyone left to return to the homestead for breakfast, Ellie urged Joe to go with them. ‘I just need a few moments to myself, darlin’,’ she said.
He understood as always and with an arm around each of his daughters he headed back to the homestead.
Ellie looked out over Warratah as she remembered Aurelia’s strength and courage. Then she sat on the rickety seat that was almost buried in the grass and the encroaching shrubs, and thought of that grave on Jarrah. Joe had decided on the epitaph, and although it might be enigmatic to those who didn’t know the story, it was the only one fit for a man who’d always been at odds with the world.
It was hot and silent but for the crickets in the long grass and she realised it was just the same kind of day as the one when Joe had surprised her with his plans for their new home. He had been away on one of his mysterious trips, but she’d expected him home soon. She knew he’d drawn up plans for their own little house on Warratah land, but had refused to tell her where it was to be built, or even what it would look like. Yet, she’d suspected the only place that would be perfect for them, would be the spot by the billabong where they’d spent their last night together before he’d left for war.
She’d turned as she heard the steady plod of a heavy horse approaching the verandah.
Joe was astride the old dray Aurelia kept for pulling the plough. The great horse plodded across the yard, his feathered fetlocks snowy against the red of the earth. His white mane and tail had been brushed to a gleam and his liver and white markings were clear in the soft light of the late afternoon sun. There was no saddle and no blanket – just a worn strip of leather for reins. He brought the gentle giant to a halt beside the top step of the verandah, and looked down at her, holding her there with his wonderful eyes. Then he reached out for their daughter.
Ellie handed him the baby, then grasped his outstretched hand. There was no need for words – their thoughts were clear in their eyes. In silent orchestration she rested her bare foot on his boot and was swung effortlessly up behind him on to the dray’s road back.
Joe handed her the baby and tucked her free arm around his waist. ‘Let’s go home,’ he’d said softly.
Ellie had rested her cheek against his shoulder and they had ridden slowly away from the homestead towards the rainbow that arched high above the great sweep of land that was Warratah.
Ellie smiled as she left the cemetery. The rainbow was still there.
Also Available
1920. Having disobeyed the wishes of her aristocratic family, Lulu Pearson, a young and talented Tasmanian sculptress, finds herself alone in London in the wake of the Great War. The future is looking bright until, on the eve of her first exhibition, Lulu learns she has inherited a racing colt called Ocean Child from a mysterious benefactor, and she must return to her homeland to claim him.
Baffled by the news, Lulu boards a ship to Tasmania to uncover the truth behind the strange bequest, but it seems a welcome return is more than she can hope for. Unbeknownst to Lulu, more than a few fortunes ride on Ocean Child's success - it seems everyone from her estranged mother to the stable hands has a part to play, and an interest in keeping the family secrets buried.
Available from:
www.quercusbooks.co.uk
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