‘Everyone tried hard to keep up the spirit though. I’m glad there was no talk of the fire over lunch. Christmas day would have been awful if that had been the topic of conversation. Just seeing the blackened hills every time I look out the kitchen window here is enough to make me sick.’ Win shoved a blue and white willow patterned jug into a cupboard and banged the door.
‘Okay Win, careful with those dishes. The men will catch him. Just you wait and see!’
‘Ellie…’ Win spun around and looked at her sister. ‘How can you be so calm? For heaven’s sake, the lunatic actually spoke to you and followed you! If I were you, I’d be beside myself!’
‘I’m not that brave, Win, but I’m not going to let him terrify me to the point where I’m afraid to turn my back or go anywhere. I’d rather cling to the thought that he’ll be caught soon.’
‘I’m sorry, Ellie. I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just all this strain. It’s getting harder and harder to take.’
‘I know, love. I’m also worried about Dad. He doesn’t look well at all. He’s not a good colour. Breathing in this smoke has really irritated his asthma.’
‘Yes, I noticed that as well. The strain is really telling on him. I think we should get the doctor to have a look at him tomorrow no matter what objections he puts up.’
***
On Boxing Day, smoke lingered in the valley. The sun was still a red ball through the haze, and the air was heavy with the smell of burnt bush. The police had questioned Ellie and Kathy about the phone calls but they could not give them anything solid to go on. They were now scouring the hill, looking for anything that would point them to the identity of the firebug.
The men were keeping a close eye on the smouldering gum trees. Then later, they would be taking it in turns to patrol the properties. Nat and Rex both agreed that plans should be kept among themselves. For all they knew, the firebug could be standing right beside them at any time, in any place, listening!
The inevitable happened and Dave suffered a major asthma attack. Ellie called the family doctor and they waited anxiously for his arrival.
Emmie sat beside the old man, trying in vain to soothe him. His medication had done nothing to ease his discomfort. His breathing came in raspy gasps between fits of coughing.
‘Ellie, he’s really bad. I’m so afraid. Just listen to him!’ Win and Ellie stood together in the hallway outside Dave’s bedroom.
‘I know. He sounds terrible. I’m not sure he… he …’ Ellie’s voice broke. She couldn’t say the words but they both knew Dave might not pull through this time.
The doctor arrived, slamming the door of his car, and hurried to the house where Hazel was waiting to show him in. He took a great deal of time while he examined Dave and when he finished, he walked with Ellie and Win to the front veranda. He had been the family doctor for many years and had great respect for the family. The old couple were his friends as well as patients.
‘Doctor, he’s bad, isn’t he? He’s very bad!’
The doctor looked at them with great concern. ‘Yes, he’s in extremely bad shape. I’ve just given him an injection to settle him but there’s nothing more I can do. Dave’s heart is weak and the stress he’s been under lately hasn’t done him any good at all. I wanted him to go to the hospital, but he absolutely refused. It stressed him even more, so I didn’t press the matter.’ He shook his head, his eyes reflecting the sadness he was feeling. ‘I think you should gather the family.’
The kindly doctor placed a gentle hand on each woman’s shoulders.
‘This is not easy for me; I’ve known Dave for years. He’s not just a patient, he’s also a friend. Asthma is a dangerous illness, as you know, and Dave has suffered a great deal. He wants to be here at Kia-Ora. Go to Emmie now and speak to her. She knows.’
The doctor patted their shoulders and, with a solemn nod, he left saying he would be back later in the day.
After he had gone, Ellie and Win held each other close. Their hearts were breaking. Inside, their darling father lay dying. How were they to prepare for this? How would their mother cope? Emmie and Dave had a special relationship. They were devoted to each other.
The two women went to the kitchen to see Hazel. She sat at the kitchen table, her head in her hands. As they entered, she raised a tearful face.
‘He’s dying, isn’t he, loves?’
‘Yes, Hazel. Doctor says we should gather the family.’ Win took her hand and squeezed it, biting her lip to restrain her own tears.
‘We have to get a message to the men at once. Win, ring Dawn, she can send Eileen across to the men on her horse. Hazel, could you please go down to the orchard and get Ted and young Robert?’ Ellie knew she had to get the family now.
‘Right away. I’ll go as fast as me legs will take me.’ Hazel hurried out the door, shoving her old straw hat on her head as she went and blowing her nose into a huge white hanky.
Win and Ellie made the heartbreaking calls, all the while wishing they could turn back the clock.
‘Come on, Win. We’ll take a cup of tea to Mum.’
Win looked at her through tear-filled eyes. ‘The girls, Ellie, they’re at their friends’.’
‘We’ll ring them, Win, c’mon. Mum needs this.’ She indicated the tea.
The old lady was sitting in the rocking chair beside the bed. Her white head was bowed and her hands were clasped together. She was praying.
Beside her in the bed, Dave lay very still. He was sleeping. The injection given by the doctor had given him slight relief. However, they had been warned it wouldn’t last.
As they tiptoed in, Emmie looked up. There was deep sadness in her blue eyes. She accepted the cup of tea and placed it on the bedside table where it would remain untouched.
Ellie and Win stood next to her, looking down to their father. A lump rose in Ellie’s throat and, swallowing hard, she bent over and whispered to Emmie.
‘Mum, Karl and the others will be here shortly.’
Emmie nodded but didn’t speak; there were no words. She knew her beloved Dave was slowly leaving her. Dave was her backbone, her soulmate. Together, they had built Kia-Ora up to what it was today. Dave had been there when each child was born. He was always there, kind, loving, loyal and strong.
Now he was going! How could she bare it? Life without Dave was unthinkable!
‘Em…’ A soft whisper came from the bed. Emmie leaned over Dave and gently took his hands.
‘Em… darling, it’s okay…’ Dave’s voice was barely audible. He was pausing for short breaths. ‘I love you!’ He gasped for air and Emmie put a gentle hand on his cheek.
‘Sshh, darling,’ she whispered, and bent to kiss his lips. ‘You’re tired, my love… I know… I love you too, my darling.’
He drifted off to sleep again, his breathing coming in short, rapid gasps.
‘Mum,’ Win whispered. ‘What can we do?’
The old lady just shook her head. Tears trickled down her cheeks and dropped onto Dave’s pillow. ‘Nothing, dear, nothing.’
One by one, the Masons gathered out in the lounge room. Hazel offered refreshments but no one wanted anything.
***
Win and Ellie left Emmie with Dave and went out to speak to the family.
‘I don’t think it will be long, he’s very weak,’ Ellie told them.
‘Did the doctor say when he’d be back?’ Sam asked.
Ellie shrugged. ‘He just said later today. I think you all should go in and see him now though.’
‘All of us together? Won’t it be too much at once?’ Sam said
‘No, I just think you should all be there. Don’t waste time. We all need to see him. He’ll know we’re there.’
Very quietly, they filed into the bedroom where Dave lay. Each one bent and kissed the gentle man who was so dearly loved by them all.
Every heart in that room was breaking!
They each went to Emmie and kissed her as well. She looked up at each one and gave them a ghost of a smil
e.
‘He knows you’re all here.’
The others tiptoed back out to the lounge room, leaving the men. Ellie and Win stayed with their parents.
Dave rapidly grew weaker, his breathing slowed to intermittent gasps.
Arthur said a prayer for him and indicated to Karl that he wanted to speak to him.
‘It’s time to ring the doctor, mate. He needs to come back now.’
‘I know. Can you do it?’
Arthur nodded and went back to Dave’s bedside. He bent and kissed him on his forehead one more time. ‘I love you, Dad.’ He left to make the call.
‘Sam, Karl and Digger all did the same before quietly leaving the room. Win and Ellie remained behind.
They sat beside the bed. Ellie held Dave’s hand and Win rested her head on his shoulder.
The sound of his laboured breathing was the only noise in the room.
Then, he stirred. Win sat up. He looked at her and a brief smile lit his face, he then looked at Ellie. She felt him squeeze her hand.
‘It’s alright, girls, I’m alright,’ he whispered.
He looked at Emmie who had leaned forward in her chair and gripped his hand tightly.
‘Em…’ He looked straight into her eyes and smiled. ‘Till we meet again.’
That was the last breath Dave took. He died as Emmie held him.
Ellie and Win, both in shock, stood behind their mother.
A sob rose in Win’s throat and she turned and fled from the room.
Emmie straightened and stood looking down at Dave.
There was no sign of pain on his face. The lines on his face had softened and he looked so peaceful; it was as if he was sleeping.
Gently, she folded his hands over his chest. With her hand on his shoulder, she bent and kissed his lifeless lips one last time. ‘Yes my darling, until we meet again,’ she whispered.
‘Come on, Mum. Let me take you outside,’ Ellie whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Her mum shook her head. ‘No, darling, not yet. I want to sit here a little longer. I want this quiet time with Dave, just the two of us.’
Ellie placed her hand on her mother’s shoulder squeezed it gently, then silently left the room.
And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion for her,
And said to her,
Weep not!
St Luke chapter 7
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Being well-respected and liked by the locals, word spread rapidly through the valley. The next day, one after another the shocked locals all dropped in to Kia-Ora to express condolences, deliver flowers, cards and offer freshly baked cakes and scones.
‘Hell, we’re so bloody sorry,’ Nat said. He and Rex had just arrived and they found Karl and Digger outside with Sam, Arthur and Jeff. ‘Is there anythin’ we can do for ya’s?’
‘No, mate, not yet anyway, but thanks all the same,’ Karl replied. ‘I can’t believe this is real.’
‘Yeah, it happened suddenly, didn’t it?’ Rex replied.
‘We knew he wasn’t all that well,’ Arthur said. ‘But it never entered our heads he was about to die!’
‘It’s the stress of these friggin’ fires,’ Sam said. ‘And the smoke hangin’ ‘round wasn’t helpin’ his asthma any either.’
‘Well, if ya want my opinion.’ Jeff looked around at them. ‘The firebug has more to answer for than lightin’ bloody fires!’
‘You’re right, mate. Dad would still be alive if it wasn’t for that bloody animal! Just let me get my hands on him, I’ll kill the bastard for what he’s done to us!’ Karl slowly shook his head and a tear trickled from the corner of his eye.
Digger handed him a beer. They all sat around in silence, each with their own memories of Dave.
***
Inside, the women gathered in the lounge room, Emmie sat by the window, gazing out at the sunshine filtering through the leaves of the walnut tree. She looked tired and drawn. Sorrow had deepened the lines on her face. Win and Ellie had helped her to bed last night, but sleep had been spasmodic. As she lay awake in the early hours, she prayed for strength to help her through the days ahead. Finally, she had drifted off again into a restless dream-filled sleep.
Win and Ellie sat beside her, and Connie, Daisy and Dawn had joined them.
They were struggling to believe that Dave was not going to walk through the door at any moment and say something to make them laugh.
‘Well, the men have taken care of everything, Mum,’ Ellie told her. ‘The funeral is arranged for Friday.’
The funeral would be the day before New Year’s Eve.
Emmie moved in her chair, sighing deeply. ‘Thank you, dear. They have all the hymns I asked for?’ she asked softly.
‘Yes, everything is just as you want it,’ Win told her. ‘It will be a big funeral, you know.’
‘Yes it will,’ she replied, ‘Your Dad was loved by so many.’ Her voice broke and she dabbed her eyes. ‘So many loved our Dave’ Emmie sniffed and then looked at each of them. ‘I have an idea…!’
***
Kathy and Tammi were upstairs in their room with Eileen and Laura. They were dwelling on their own memories of their grandfather.
‘Tam, remember when we were little girls and Granddad would take us down the orchard and as soon as we were out of Mum’s sight? He would sit us on Prince and let us ride him along the paths between the fruit trees.’
Prince was Dave’s old draught horse. A beautiful old horse, he had a gentle temperament. Win was not keen on her little girls riding him because he was so big, but Dave knew they would be safe so he would wait until they were out of sight from the house and then he would put each child up on Prince’s back and lead them through the fruit trees.
Their childhood had been a wonderful time full of love and fun times with a wonderful and kind Grandfather.
Tammi smiled at the memory. ‘Yes, and we always gave him away when we got back to the house, because we were so excited that we blabbed all about it to Mum! You know this house just won’t be the same ever again, not without Granddad…’ Tammie wiped her tears on her dress.
‘What about how he had us believing there was a goanna living in the walnut tree?’ Eileen added. ‘Remember? He would point to a branch way up high and tell us he could see it up there and we’d stare and stare but could never see it.’ She laughed at the memory and tears spilled from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. ‘Oh granddad… why did you have to go?’
Eileen wiped away her tears. ‘Old Harry reckons everyone’ll blame the firebug for Granddad’s death.’
‘Well, he’s right; if it hadn’t been for all the stress of these fires, granddad would still be alive. So the firebug is to blame for his death,’ Kathy said bitterly.
Francis poked his head around the door, interrupting them.
‘Mum’s going to play a few tunes for everyone. They decided to do it for Granddad. They’re waiting in the lounge room for us.’
‘Really… Well, if that’s what they want. What about Gran? How’s she feel about it?’ Kathy asked uncertainly.
‘She was the one who suggested it apparently,’ he replied.
They joined the rest of the family in the lounge room. Harvey and Mary joined them and, just like everyone else, they too were extremely saddened. The passing of such a kind and sincere friend had touched the Winters deeply.
Ellie played all the old favourites her mother and father had loved. When she played Old Black Joe, a special favourite of Dave’s, it brought fresh tears to everyone’s eyes.
Memories came flooding back and it was as though Dave was right there with them!
***
The morning sun rose over the valley and Karl was first up. Today wasn’t going to be easy. He showered and dressed quickly and went down to get the coffee brewing.
Emmie came in next. She looked as though she hadn’t slept a wink. Dark shadows circled her eyes. Karl looked worriedly at her.
‘I’ve got the coffee brewing, Mum
. Sit down and I’ll pour you some. We’ve beaten Hazel this morning!’
‘Not by much, lad!’ The round-faced little woman came waddling in the back door. ‘Not by much!’ Dave had meant the world to her and Ted, and they were both grieving deeply for him. However, they were both determined to stand by the family and help them through this as best they could. She shooed Karl over to the table and took over pouring the coffee.
Gradually, the family gathered around the breakfast table, knowing today was going to be the hardest day of their lives. In three hours, they would be laying their father to rest. Emmie would be saying her final goodbye to the love of her life.
***
At Sam’s household, Eric, Des and Sam were talking about the discussion at the meeting the locals had held the day before.
Every farmer, every fruit grower and all the other local blokes had been there. Dave’s death had shocked them and they held the firebug responsible. The whole valley was up in arms about the obvious perpetrator of hate who was wreaking havoc upon their lives.
The word had spread that anyone daring to enter their properties after dark would be shot! The men were sleeping with their shotguns ready beside their beds. They would take no chances!
The Albury police had attended the meeting and told them they would be allocating plain clothes police to watch the properties day and night. They warned the men not to take matters into their own hands. Let the police do their job. They would catch the firebug!
The desperate locals were not prepared to wait.
‘Well, after chasing the bastard along the creek, and getting pretty damn close, by hell… surely that’ll frighten him off.’ Sam was really feeling the pressure. Losing his father had created a void no one else could fill and the worry about this lunatic was too much.
‘Yeah,’ Eric replied. ‘But it could just excite him more. He probably loves reading about himself in the paper. He’s sick in the head! Wonder what he feels now! He’s to blame for us losing Granddad.’ Eric’s eyes filled with tears. ‘If I ever get my hands on the fuckin’ bastard, I’ll choke the life out of him.’
Red Hot Page 14
