by Mary Moore
When Judy had eaten the delicious meal she put the tray away and lay back and closed her eyes. This was the first chance she had had to examine the exciting discovery she had made this morning. She loved Mark. Even thinking of him gave her a feeling of excitement. No wonder she had been unable to think seriously about marrying Bruce—she had been unconsciously comparing him with Mark, always to his detriment. She must be careful. Mark must not suspect that his kiss had been the reason for her breaking off with Bruce. It would only embarrass him. He was going to marry Zelda. He had only been flirting with her to pass the time, she knew that. He had been honest with her. Even this morning he had told her he wasn't free.
' You asleep ?' It was Mark taking her tray.
Judy opened her eyes. ' No, just thinking.'
' I'd like to talk to you if you're not too
tired.'
' Go ahead, I've had a good sleep. You're not going to start growling at me again for
climbing trees ?'
No,' Mark replied as he sat down on the end of the bed, taking care not to disturb her foot. Nan tells me you're not going to marry Bruce.'
Judy watched him carefully. She wished she knew what he was thinking, and blushed. It was lucky he didn't know what she was thinking. She looked down and started pleating the sheet between her fingers, nervously. No. I've thought it over carefully and I don't think we would have been happy together.'
' I'm glad. He wasn't the man for you, too wishy-washy.'
Judy smoothed the sheet out and started pleating it again as if it was her only interest in life. What sort of a man do you think I need ?'
Someone to boss you. Bruce would have let you have your own way all the time—very bad for your character. Are you very unhappy ?'
No, just relieved.'
Good. Now that's settled, let's talk business. You came here to have a place where you could think until you could come to a decision. Now that a decision has been made what are your plans ? .Will you stay on here a few more months ? At least until we get some definite news from abroad. What do you say ?'
Judy had been trying to concentrate on his
words, but her thoughts were chaotic. Oh, Mark, Mark,' cried her heart, I'd stay forever if you'd ask me.' Had he no idea what effect he was having on her ? He was so close she could put her hand out and touch him. He was waiting patiently for her answer.
I haven't made any plans yet. I want to get back to nursing eventually, but there's no rush. I love Nan, and the children. I know it sounds funny, but I feel closer to Nan than I do to my own mother. I would like to be here when the news comes, just in case it isn't good. They'll need me then.' She looked directly at him.
This time it was Mark who turned away:' `I'm very grateful, Judy. I don't know how to thank you. Will you stay until March ? Would you be prepared to stay that long ?'
Judy's heart sank. He would not need her after that date because Zelda would be here to take care of Nan and the twins. 'Yes, I'll stay.'
Will you promise me that no matter what happens you'll stay until the beginning of March ? I would like something definite so that I can plan my work.'
`Yes, I give you my word,' Judy answered quietly. How funny listening to him begging her to stay, when that was the only thing in the world she wanted to do. Just to be near him was heaven, but he couldn't know that. How dear he was to her! How could she
leave without seeing Zelda ? She wouldn't have been human if she did not hope for a miracle. That something might happen ?
Three months was quite a long time. Who knows?
CHAPTER VII
Judy enjoyed her three days of enforced rest. She felt relaxed and happy as she sat on the sofa, doing small jobs that normally she had little time for. She sewed buttons on, clamed jerseys, and caught up on her correspondence. She had received letters from her Mother and father the previous week. As she answered them, she felt a greater affection for her parents than she had felt for years. Who was she to judge them ? She had nearly made the same mistake as they had. Her mother had been just eighteen and her father a year older when they had married. As the years passed they had drawn further and further away from each other, they had quarrelled inces-santly, and while her mother had loved com-pany, loved parties and outings, her father had been a quiet, bookish person. They had rubbed each other raw. Perhaps they had been wise to part In fact -they were now better friends than they had been when they were married to each other. She realized now that they did love her, that -they had always tried to minimize the effect of their divorce on her. It had been she herself who had held aloof, blaming them for her unhappy child-hood. With this new understanding, she felt all the bitterness drain away.
At the end of the week the doctor checked her ankle, and advised her to keep off it as much as possible for the next two weeks, otherwise she would have a permanently weak ankle. Mark put a comfortable chair out in the garden, where Judy spent much of her time watching Mac at his work. She had become quite good friends with Mr McTaggart over the past two months. She had come to respect and admire the old man for his wisdom and honest upright standards. He did not talk a lot. Judy had to work hard to extract any information she wanted. She knew that he had been a miner most of his life, and since he retired he had a gold claim which he worked in his spare time. He had promised to take Judy up to see his claim.
Judy hopped out on her crutches to her chair and sat enjoying the warm sunlight and listening to the birds singing. She noted the meticulous care with which Mac transplanted the tiny lettuce plants. She was beginning to feel restless, tied to her chair. The first week she had been as happy as a lark. Her love for Mark had been so new, so precious, she had hoarded it like a hidden treasure, content that she loved him, not worried whether he loved her in return. She loved him, she could see him every day, that was all she asked for then. As the days passed she began to long for some sign that he found her attractive, that he liked her more than as a friend. But
there was nothing. He was friendly, teasing, cheerful, and that was all. Since the day she had fallen from the tree and he had kissed her, he had erected an invisible barrier between them.
`Well, lassie, you're improving on those contraptions,' Mac's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Yes, I am. By the end of this week I should be able to return them to the hospital.'
Mac had finished the transplanting and sat down on the wheelbarrow, beside her. He lit his pipe and puffed away contentedly.
Were you ever married, Mac ?' she asked. `I was.'
Judy waited patiently. There was no use trying to prompt him, that much she had learnt. If he had something to say he would tell her in his own good time.
`Ah, she was a bonnie lassie. Her hair was the same colour as your own, like fire in the sun. My bonnie Jean, wilful, wayward, loving and kind. She had plenty of spirit, and a heart as big as the whole world. You make me think of her, only her eyes were blue.'
`How long have you been on your own, Mac ?' Judy's voice was soft.
`A long time,' he sighed. Thirty years, yet sometimes it feels like only yesterday she was by me. She drowned saving a young boy. Two children were swept out to sea in a rip tide. She managed to save one, but perished
with the other. She should not have gone back in after the other boy, but it was like her not to count the cost When they came to tell me, I couldn't believe it at first, that anyone as full of life as she . . ! He drew on his pipe. 'Time is a marvellous friend, Judy. Time heals all wounds.'
They sat in silence for a long time, then Judy asked, 'You never thought of marrying again ? You must have been a young man when she died.'
No, never. Who could take my Jeannie's place ?'
'Do you believe there's someone special for each person ?' Judy persisted.
'Yes, and I found mine,' Mac smiled at Judy, and I think you've found yours!
Judy blushed. How do you know ?'
I may not say much, but I see a lot. Mark is a fine man. You've got a good chap.'
Judy burst out, 'That's just the trouble, Mac, I haven't got him. He doesn't love me. He's going to marry Zelda Morrison!
'Rubbish ! '
'It isn't rubbish, he told me so himself—or as good as,' Judy said miserably. In three months' time.'
Is she wearing his ring?'
'No!
'No, and she never will, if you've got any gumption. Go in and fight for him if you think he's worth it. You have everything on
your side, you live in his house, you work with him. In three months, my Jeannie could have moved mountains, and so can you. Think on, what does he want most in the world ?'
To get this farm,' replied Judy.
Well, help him win it. By the time he has achieved his ambition, it will be you he turns to, mark my words.'
I wish I had money,' said Judy desolately.
Don't be so foolish, woman. What can money buy ? Can it buy happiness ? Can it buy health, or love ? Do you think if you had money Mark would take or marry you for it ? You don't know your man. He wouldn't want to be beholden to any woman, least of all his wife. Mark wants the satisfaction of beating this on his own. What would he have gained to have it handed to him on a plate ?'
`A farm,' said Judy bitterly.
Mac stood up and knocked his pipe out. I must get back to work, instead of blathering here all day. When you marry Mark, I will have your wedding ring made from gold I've won from my claim. Now put on that loving smile of yours and remember that no one ever won anything worthwhile without a bit of a struggle.
Perhaps Mac had something there, Judy thought. It would do no harm to try. She loved Mark enough to want to see him get the farm, whether he married her or not. If she
helped him, maybe he would be able to finance it himself, and he would not then need extra money. He would not need to marry Zelda—but what if he loved Zelda ?
November passed and then December. Day by day Judy worked beside Mark, always cheerful and willing to help. He gratefully accepted her offer to milk each night, with the twins to assist her. It gave him another two hours to work. And how hard he worked During the day he ploughed and worked and sowed the paddocks. At night he sheared the sheep. Each afternoon Judy would bring in about fifty sheep and after dinner Mark would shear them. So, slowly, the flock was shorn and the bales filled and railed away. Nan worried and scolded him for working too hard, but it made not one iota of difference; he drove himself to the utmost.
Christmas passed with scarcely a ripple. Mrs Palmer was very worried that the twins would miss their parents badly at Christmas; however, the parcels that their parents had left ready in case they were not back by Christmas seemed to satisfy them. As they opened them and read the cards they were reassured of their parents' love and talked eagerly of their return.
It was school holidays now and they were enjoying themselves immensely, helping with the haymaking, going swimming, and in
general keeping everyone on their toes waiting for the next disaster.
Early in January Mark had another letter from the leader of the expedition. He wrote saying there was a rumour that two white people were known to be living with a tribe far in the hinterland. He begged them not to be too hopeful, as it could be two missionaries, or some government officials. However, he felt that he could not leave with a clear conscience unless he checked the rumours out on the off chance that it could be Paul and Betsy. He warned them that the chance was slight and that he would visit them on his return to New Zealand in February.
Mrs Palmer was confident that it would prove to be her son and his wife. Nothing could shake her. ' Oh, I'm glad we have kept all this worry from the twins !'
Mark was not so sure and tried to caution her against a further disappointment. They all watched anxiously for the mail each day.
Judy often went down to the Stillwater tennis club after dinner. She enjoyed a game of tennis and played well. Mark had taken her down and introduced her, and she knew Claire and Steve quite well now. They had been friends since the first night that Claire had played chaperone, and of course Steve was quoted daily by the twins as teacher says'. They were enthusiastic members of the club, so Judy saw quite a lot of them.
Mark had told her, I won't be able to take you very often, but you can take the car whenever you wish.'
Judy often went home with Claire for coffee after a game. One evening after she had helped Claire put the children to bed and Steve had gone back to school to work they sat chatting.
What is Zelda Morrison like, Claire ? I often hear her name mentioned at the club and I gather she's Mark's girl-friend. Where is she, anyhow ?' Judy sounded deliberately casual.
`Oh, Zelda ? She's a nice kid—sort of small and blonde and sweet. You'll like her, every-one does. Yes, she and Mark have always been close. Her father was a domineering old pig, and I -think she used to head for Mark whenever the going got rough. He would set her on her feet and give her the necessary courage to stand up to her old man. I don't know if they're any more than good friends, but you never can tell.'
'No, you can't,' answered. Judy lightly. 'Where is she now ?'
'In Australia. She's very artistic, and won some sort of designing competition. Look, I'm not really sure of my facts, but one thing I do know, she's coming home at the beginning of February. I heard. her cousin say so the other day.'
Mark sold his wool in -the January wool
sale. The price of wool had slumped badly at the Wellington and Auckland sales, and dropped again disastrously at Christchurch. Mark's wool cheque was six hundred dollars less than he had allowed for in his budget. His face was set and stubborn after he had spent a night working on his accounts. The next morning he said, Right, Nan, there's no other way out, I'll have to make up the deficiency by cutting flax. Provided I really go at it, I can make six hundred dollars by March. I get nine dollars a ton here at the gate—say sixty tons, I can do it.'
I hate you starting that, Mark. It's such heavy work—not so much the cutting but the carrying out. I'm always scared you'll cut yourself, or tip the tractor up. The ground is so rough up there. Isn't there any other way ?'
Cattle prices are good at the moment, but they could drop. I can't afford to count on them to adjust the balance. I have to keep the stock numbers up anyhow.' He turned to Judy. Do you mind keeping on with the evening milking? If it's too much for you tell me. I don't want to kill you with work.'
Judy noted the new lines of strain around Mark's eyes and answered unhesitantly, ' It's no trouble, Mark. I love the work, and the twins are a great help.'
So each morning after milking, wet or fine, Mark set off with his lunch to cut flax. He sometimes took a morning off for stock work,
but never any time for relaxation or pleasure.
Judy went up with him occasionally, and sat and watched as he swung the sharp sickle-shaped knife in a steady rhythmical movement, slicing through the flax just above the roots. He tied each bundle of flax with a special knot at each end—twenty-four bundles to the ton. Working steadily all day with only a short break for lunch, Mark could cut three tons a day. He then had to carry them over rough country to the trailer and bring them home, and the flax-mill lorry picked it up at the gate.
Judy marvelled at the terrific pace he worked, never stopping, never flagging. One day she stayed to share his lunch.
` Why are you killing yourself like this, Mark ? Surely there's no need to work so hard. You said you're going to marry Zelda and then you'll get the farm. What's the point of this effort ?'
Mark grinned his old wicked teasing grin, that she saw so rarely these days. ' You would rather I didn't work ? You think I should sit back and wait for Zelda to come home ?'
`No,' Judy stammered.
`Wouldn't it be a shocker if she turned me down? I've just got to cover all bets.'
`But you are going to marry her ?' Judy persisted, in spite of the ache in her heart she had to know.
I want to make this on my own, Judy, it's
something I have to do.
When or if I'm successful, I'll marry the girl I love.
So you think love is important ?'
`Perhaps. Now off you go home. I'm not wasting my time talking when I could be working. Go away, you're distracting me.'
' I wish I could distract you,' she muttered under her breath as she walked away.
She had followed Mac's advice to the letter, and where had it got her ? Nowhere. Mark was friendly, and deeply grateful for her help. He teased her, growled at her, laughed at her, but really he treated her no differently from the way he treated Vicki. Well, Judy decided, she was no child. She would show him. She was sick of playing little-goody-two-shoes; not that she minded helping him, but romance wise it was not getting her anywhere. Zelda would be home soon, and her chance would be gone. What he needed was a good shock, someone else on the scene, perhaps ? Come to think of it, the last time he had kissed her was when Bruce was due for the day. Since that day he had kept his distance, behaved so very, very brotherly. Well, bother it, she did not need a brother!
When she came to Koromiko Creek, she sat down on the bank to think out some plan. Competition, that was the answer—but who ? Her eyes gleamed as she cast her mind over the available material. There were not many eligible men about. Most of the male visitors
to the farm were married. The young student teacher who boarded with Claire and Steve ? No, he was too young. One by one she discarded the prospective males from her list. The vet ?—now he was really something, quite a dish. Unfortunately he had recently become engaged. She had no intention of hurting anyone by her schemes, yet it had to be a man who would make Mark sit up and take notice. She had to find out if he had any feeling for her at all. If he ignored the fact that she was going out with someone else, then she would know he didn't care! She had to find out.
Suddenly she laughed out loud. Right under her nose all the time, and she had missed him! The herd-tester, who was due any day now. He usually arrived about two in the afternoon, took samples at the evening milking-, stayed the night and left after lunch the following day. Lucky Costelle was a strange man. Mark seemed to get on with him quite well, but Judy noticed none of the other farmers had a good word to say for him. He had apparently built up a fairly shocking reputation as far as women were concerned. When she had asked Mark if the stories were true he had laughed and said, ' Oh, I don't think he's as bad as they make out. He told me once that he considered him-self as God's gift to the farmers' wives. He brightened the lives of the lonely ones and he
