Raintree Valley

by Violet Winspear

  The thought of cold turkey wasn’t very appetizing, but as she gazed around at the towering trees, the clumps of ginger against the dense greenery, and the chains of vine that looped themselves about the trunks, she grew nervous in case Adam lost the way back to her. The forest seemed such a vast, impenetrable place to her, and she watched in wonderment as the raintrees unfurled their leaves at the touch of the sun and released the moisture they had collected in the night.

  She would go and have a wash while she waited!

  When she reached the stream she found blue and green love-birds flying over the water like bright and lovely arrows. And there were clumps of lotus-like flowers floating at the water’s edge. The wild beauty of it all was something she would never forget, and she plucked a flower and tucked it into her freshly braided hair. Cooled by her wash, with her pink shirt tucked neatly into her jeans, she made her way back to camp.

  As she stepped from among the vines and the clumps of ginger, Adam swung round, grinning at what she had added to his note. Mr. C. You can’t have me for breakfast- I protest. Miss D.

  He glanced at her and his eyes were a clear, startling grey in his beard-shadowed face. They flashed over her, sending a tingle through her.

  ‘I must say you look fresh enough to eat - it’s mighty unfair that a man needs a razor before he can look halfway human in the morning.’

  He ran a hand over his jaw and smiled ruefully at the rasping sound. He had a strong beard, but then he was a strong man!

  ‘What did you bring back from your hunting trip?’ she asked.

  ‘Mangoes. Found a tree loaded with them and brought back a couple for breakfast and a few more to carry with us on our trek. It will grow hot as the sun rises and these fruits are full of juice.’

  They made a refreshing breakfast, but all the time Joanna was conscious that this strange idyll with Adam was at the beginning of its end. She looked around, imprinting on her memory the flame flowers, the gaudy little birds that darted upon the cake crumbs she and Adam scattered. One bird was bronze-green, a peacock charmer with a long jewelled tail.

  ‘There’s one thing you can say.’

  ‘And what is that?’ As she turned her head to look at him she was dappled by a casuarina.

  ‘I made sure you had decent grub even though I was fool enough to forget to refuel the plane. It hasn’t been too bad, has it?’

  ‘It’s been quite an experience.’ She glanced away from him because it was easier to look at the birds than into those quizzical grey eyes. ‘I shall remember the rainforest, the wild singing sounds, and billy-boiled tea.’

  ‘Will you remember me, Joanna?’

  Her heart thudded and she was even more afraid to look at him. ‘I shall try,’ she said lightly. ‘You’ve said one or two memorable things to me.’

  ‘Planning to join your sister quite soon?’ He emptied the billy-can over the fire and the smoke spiralled upwards.

  ‘I have almost enough for my fare, but I shall stay of course until you find a replacement for me.’

  ‘I wouldn’t want Aunt Charly to be left without any help,’ he said a trifle curtly.

  ‘Well, Bonney isn’t exactly helpless.’ The words were out before she could stop them, and her glance followed them to Adam. He towered there, at the other side of the smoking remnants of the camp fire. His eyes were like steel in his sunburned face.

  ‘Are you suggesting that Bonney could replace you?’ he demanded.

  ‘I’m sure it wouldn’t do her any harm to help around the house,’ Joanna said valiantly. ‘She might burn a few steaks — I did myself at the beginning - but it’s surely a good thing for a girl to know how to cook and keep house. You said yourself that you like everyone to pull their weight at Raintree, and Bonney isn’t a child any more - well, you know that for yourself.’

  ‘No, she isn’t a child,’ he agreed, ‘but you know my reason for spoiling her a little.’

  ‘Yes.’ Joanna felt as if a knife turned in her heart. He meant the girl for his wife, so he was justified in making a fuss of her - but what sort of a wife would she make for him if she was spoiled and waited on like a princess? A man like Adam needed a woman. Someone who loved him with warmth and passion and a willingness to share the crest of the wave and the troughs. Bonney was as pretty as a picture, but she was also as shallow as one. She was better suited for a man like Vance, who liked to skim the cream off the surface of life—

  ‘We’d better be making a move,’ said Adam. ‘Time’s getting on and we’ve quite a long walk ahead of us.’

  ‘I’ll go and wash the billy and the cups.’ She took them and hurried off among the trees to the stream ... there were tears in her eyes and as she knelt to rinse the can and the cups, the flower fell from her hair and floated away on the water.

  So began the final lap of their trek through the rainforest, a riot of vegetation, roots that tripped and clung, insects that buzzed in the humid air. Joanna brushed a weary hand across her eyes, hazy with fatigue and perspiration, and plodded on in the wake of Adam, who threw encouraging words over his shoulder, who paused now and again to hand her the water-flask.

  ‘Not much further to go,’ he shot her a smile and brushed a green fly from her cheek. ‘See, the path ahead is filling up with sunlight, which means the trees are thinning out. How are your feet? You seem to be stumbling a bit.’

  ‘It’s because I’m tired - just a little.’

  ‘Then here goes, now you haven’t the strength to fight me.’ A steely arm swept around her and lifted her. She murmured a protest, but he pulled her head against his shoulder, so that she felt the vigour and hardness of him, and couldn’t have said another word if she had tried.

  Gradually the green-gold light shifted from his face, and the undergrowth became less entangled. The dappling of sunshine turned to broad, bright shafts and the canopy opened overhead to reveal the vivid blue of the afternoon sky. The leaves of the raintrees shimmered as they caught the sun, the tufted acacias gleamed yellow, and Joanna caught her breath as they came out of the forest and faced a rustic bridge that arched across a gorge that burned with coloured lichens.

  ‘Across the bridge and we’re home at last,’ he said.

  She waited for him to put her down, but he walked to the middle of the bridge before he did so, and it seemed to her a symbolic gesture, as if only so far could the strange intimacy of their adventure be carried.

  At the bottom of the gorge a river raced over rocks and a sunlit falls made thunder and spray. The scene was awesome, beautiful, and there were no words to describe Joanna’s feelings as she and Adam walked on towards Raintree.

  They came to the house from the rear, a pair of tired travellers, hot, thirsting for frosted drinks, cool showers and the comfort of their beds for a few hours.

  Someone stood on the veranda ... a voice called their names, and a girlish figure came running across the grass to throw eager young arms about Adam’s neck.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ‘ADAM ... darling Adam!’ The girl hugged him. ‘When you didn’t arrive home yesterday, Aunt Charly got in touch with the Brennans and we were told that you left for home in the morning. Vance and some of the men are out looking for you both ...’ Bonney ran out of breath and with her arms still chained about his neck she leaned away to search his face. ‘You look all right ... whatever happened?’

  ‘We ran out of fuel and had to make a forced landing.’ There was a deep crease in his cheek as he smiled down at Bonney.

  The girl shot a look at Joanna and took in swiftly her fair dishevelled hair, and the flying-jacket that hung from her shoulders. ‘You mean - it’s taken you all this time to reach home?’

  ‘I’m afraid so.’ He gave a dry laugh. ‘Now let’s leave the explanations until later, honey. Joanna is rocking on her feet, and I’m about to die of wanting a long cool beer.’

  ‘I’ll run and tell Aunt Charly you’re here and safe!’

  Bonney sped away, and Joanna felt Adam’s gaze upon her.
She braved his eyes and saw the little twist of a smile on his lips. ‘You mustn’t mind if we arouse a bit of curiosity,’ he drawled. You’re an attractive blonde, and one or two people are bound to wonder if I behaved like a gentleman all the time.’

  ‘Those who really know you won’t be in any doubt, Adam.’ Colour stole into her cheeks, and when they reached the veranda steps she added sincerely, ‘I want to thank you for all your patience and consideration towards a greenhorn.’

  ‘I want to thank you, Joanna, for being a girl who smiles at a predicament. If you had been the sort who gets into a flap, I shouldn’t have been kind or patient. It’s been a pleasure, Miss Dowling, being plane-wrecked with you.’

  It was as if he called her darling, and confused, wanting now to be alone, she hastened indoors and along the paved breezeway that ran through the house. The sound of Aunt Charly’s stick could be heard, and as she rounded the passage she came face to face with a woman on whom anxiety had left its mark.

  ‘Joanna ... my dear!’

  ‘It’s all right.’ Joanna hugged her. ‘We’re both fine.’

  ‘I was so afraid for you both ... and yet, knowing Adam ...’ Aunt Charly looked directly into Joanna’s eyes, as if she sensed that Joanna had fallen in love with him. ‘Poor child, you’re whacked out! You must rest. I’ll send Peg to coddle you.’

  ‘You’re kind.’ Joanna was glad to get away to her room, cool, shaded and quiet, and Peg, the young coloured girl, was no intrusion when she came with her soft, good-natured smile to help Joanna freshen up. After her shower it felt good to slip into cotton pyjamas and then into bed. Peg had brought her a jug of fruit juice, and that was all she wanted for now.

  ‘You sleep awhile, Miss Jo, and then you be all nice and ready for the party. Miss Bonney was that worried ... she thought it would be cancelled Now everything fine again. The Boss is back safe.’

  Joanna smiled drowsily. ‘Come and wake me, Peg, when it’s time to get dressed for the party.’

  ‘I will, Miss Jo.’

  The door closed softly and Joanna was alone with her thoughts, which for a while disturbed her and wouldn’t her rest. She closed her eyes and saw again the look Bonney had given her - it had been unmistakably a jealous look, that of a girl who regarded Adam as her private property.

  She slept after that, as if her tired mind and body could take ho more ... and it was sundown when she awoke, feeling very much refreshed. She was still alone. Peg had not yet returned to tell her it was time to prepare for the party, but the afterglow at the windows beckoned her and she slipped from her bed and went to watch the dying flames in the sky and the way Raintree Valley filled with violet shadows.

  Adam’s land, so much a part of the man, with unexpected beauty hiding among its rugged planes, and as she gazed from the window she saw a band of horsemen cantering homewards, and the tall rider at the head of them was Vance without a doubt. In the dusk light he resembled Adam, but she felt no tingling thrill, such as she had suppressed on more than one occasion when she had seen the Boss astride his raking chestnut, flashing his eyes over his beloved valley.

  As the men rode nearer she heard them laughing and talking, and she guessed that Adam had sent a messenger to bring them back from their searching. There would be no smiles if anything ever happened to the Boss; there would be only a dreadful sense of being cast adrift from a firm and dependable rudder.

  ‘Yippee!’ A broad-brimmed hat went flying into the air, and Joanna gave a soft laugh. Yes, they had heard right enough that Adam Corraine was back where he belonged.

  She put on the light and was brushing her hair when Peg poked her head round the door. ‘You’re up and awake, Miss Jo!’ The girl was smiling all over her face as she came into the room, carrying a square box with gold lettering on it. ‘You must open this right away, and no arguments.’

  Joanna eyed the box with wide-eyed curiosity. ‘Who sent it and who said so?’

  ‘A man, Miss Jo.’ Peg was giggling.

  ‘A man?’ Joanna took a look at the lettering on the box. Madame Jeanne, she read. Costumier and dressmaker. ‘Oh!’ Her startled eyes met Peg’s. ‘Is it for me?’

  ‘For you and no one else, Miss Jo.’

  With hands that were a trifle unsteady Joanna lifted the lid and the folds of tissue paper, and her breath caught in her throat A dress was revealed, of deep blue chiffon, lovely and misty as moonlight on water. There was a card in a little envelope. Miss D. This is to replace the dress I ruined with the fire extinguisher. Now no British arguments! Mr. C.

  Joanna was speechless. She hadn’t dreamed that Adam would be as good as his word and replace the dress she had worn at the barbecue. He was always so busy that she had felt sure he wouldn’t give it another thought ‘The dress came with Bonney’s presents on the mail plane,’ Peg told her. ‘The colour matches your eyes, Miss Jo.’

  Joanna could feel herself blushing and she told herself not to be foolish. Adam would have asked Aunt Charly’s advice about the dress and she would have suggested blue, and given him the measurements which had been taken for the white overalls Joanna wore in the kitchen. Those had been cut out and machined by a woman from the village.

  ‘I won’t keep you, Peg,’ she said. ‘By the way, does Aunt Charly need my help with the last-minute preparations?’

  ‘No, everything is ready.’ Peg hesitated by the door and her smile was rather shy. ‘You’ll look a real pleasure in that dress, Miss Jo. I bet the Boss hopes you’ll wear it for the party.’

  ‘Yes,’ Joanna smiled and fondled the blue chiffon. ‘We want everything to be just right for Bonney.’

  ‘She’s that excited,’ Peg laughed. You’d think something extra special was in the wind.’

  After Peg had gone, Joanna dressed for the party and pondered the girl’s parting words. What surprise was in store for everyone tonight? Was Bonney’s gift from Adam to take the shape of a diamond ring?

  Joanna smoothed the silky-chiffon folds of the lovely dress he had given her. It fitted perfectly and had a softly draped bodice with a sparkle of tiny stars at the waist and the hem. Her hair fell in soft curves to her shoulders and she wore a coral-pink lipstick. As she studied her reflection in the mirror she wondered if Adam would notice her in the dress and feel a little pleased that it suited her so well.

  When she arrived downstairs she found the lounge deserted, and the dining-room equally so. The members of the family must still be dressing, and the guests would not start arriving for another half-hour. She wandered about the dining-room, admiring the flower arrangements, the gloss on the fine old furniture and the way it reflected the light of the festive chandeliers. The long family table had been laid with a damask cloth, sparkling silverware and wine glasses, and big red roses from the schoolmaster’s garden clustered in bowls among fronds of fern. Each place was set with a tiny name-plate and she leaned forward to study the placings and found that she was to sit between Vance and Adoniah.

  Adam’s place was at the head of the table, with Aunt Charly at one side of him, and Bonney at the other side.

  As Joanna stood admiring the picture which the table made, she heard a slight sound by the door and swung round to confront a tall, handsome figure in a white dinner-jacket, crisp white shirt and narrow dark trousers. He was smiling, one hand lightly at rest in his pocket, and very slowly his blue eyes travelled over Joanna.

  ‘You look beautiful,’ he said. ‘I’m glad my cousin didn’t let you get scratched and bitten and exhausted during your ordeal in the rain-forest. But then Adam knows the place like the palm of his hand, and he’s a born knight gallant.’

  ‘Yes.’ The smile she gave Vance was a trifle uncertain. ‘With Adam it wasn’t too much of an ordeal. He found food for us, and water, and I thought the rain-forest rather beautiful. The plane isn’t too much damaged—’

  ‘Poor old Bony-bird,’ he said, and then he came towards Joanna and before she could retreat he took her by the shoulders and held her gently but firmly. ‘Do you
remember when we flew among the stars, Joanna? It was very pleasant, wasn’t it? We seemed on the edge of something big, and then slowly it was lost like stardust in the sand, and we knew ourselves friends instead of lovers.’

  She gazed back at him and saw that his smile was nostalgic, as if no more would he banter about marrying her; as if he realized at last that love was a serious and passionate thing, not just a game.

  ‘I was very anxious about you and Adam,’ he went on. And then he broke into his gay smile. ‘We didn’t want Bonney’s party to be spoiled, did we?’

  She laughed and relaxed. ‘Aunt Charly has made the table look superb. Look at the roses, Vance!’

  ‘Gorgeous, aren’t they?’ He smiled down at her instead. ‘I’d like to kiss you, just to say I’m glad you’re alive and well and living here at Raintree.’

  She didn’t resist because she knew that his kiss would be that of a friend. Then as he bent his head and his lips touched her face, someone else strode into the room, a brown hand arrested at his bow-tie as he came to an abrupt halt just inside the doorway. Over Vance’s shoulder Joanna met eyes that seemed to have the sky inside them. Stern and still they looked right at her, and then he swung on his heel.

  ‘Excuse me!’ he said pointedly. ‘I’ll go out and come in again.’

  ‘Adam!’ Vance straightened with a laugh and turned to his cousin.

  ‘All I wanted,’ Adam had faced round again and his flash of sternness was replaced by his quizzical smile, ‘was help with my tie. I’m clumsy tonight - can’t seem to get the darn thing to look right.’