‘Never seen that car before. Wonder whose it is?’ she thought. Nudging Lightning with her heels, she cantered towards the road, breaking into a gallop as she saw the car do a U-turn at the corner near her house and slowly head back down the road.
Eileen brought Lightning to a halt at the fence by the roadside and watched as it drew closer. It came to a stop, its engine idling loudly under the bonnet.
The rugged face of the passenger smiled up at her. ‘How ya doin’?’ he asked, resting his arm on the car door.
The driver leant across and peered at her. ‘G’day.’
‘Darcy… Daryl! Wow, love the pink machine!’
Eileen felt her face flush. She had noticed how handsome Darcy was at the club a few nights ago and was envious of Dot being with him and his brothers.
‘Yeah, cool isn’t she? I haven’t seen you since the club the other night. We didn’t get to talk much. What’re ya doin’ today?’
‘Um. Not much, just been for a ride up the hill.’ She pointed behind her.
‘Well, it’s still early, wanna come for a drive? I can show ya how this baby moves.’
‘I’d like to, but I have to take Lightning back and unsaddle him and rub him down, and that’ll take me a little while.’
‘No worries. I’ll wait out front for ya.’
‘Oh… ok.’ Eileen couldn’t believe it. She smiled brightly and said she would be as quick as she could. She turned Lightning around, her mind in a whirl as she galloped back to the stable.
‘I better put some lippy and perfume on,’ she thought, smiling to herself.
Darcy spun the Chev around and drove slowly back up the steep rise to the front of the house. A smile hovered on his lips as he watched the way Eileen handled Lightning, his smile widening at the rise and fall of her neat little backside in the saddle.
***
Mary was excited at the thought of her plans for the evening. She carefully applied her make-up and sprayed herself with her favourite fragrance. She studied her appearance in the mirror.
‘Mmm, you’ll do nicely, Mary ole’ girl,’ she told her reflection.
She was slender and graceful in navy blue and white. She looked beautiful.
Mary had arranged to meet with Karl in the adjoining town of Wodonga, across the NSW/Victorian border. They were going to an out-of-town restaurant. It gave her a thrill just thinking of their secret affair. She looked good and felt good. Feeling confident, she grabbed her purse and keys, and walked briskly to her car.
***
In 1851, separation was achieved between northern and southern New South Wales. The border was proposed as the Murrumbidgee River, well north of Albury. Due to a clerical error, the boundary was fixed at the Murray River, the new state was named Victoria and Albury became a frontier border town. The settlement on the Victorian side of the river was originally named Wodonga. It was changed to Belvoir, although both names were used for 20 years. With time the original name stuck and Belvoir was dropped in 1874.
The arrival of the first railroad from Melbourne in 1873 largely spelt the end of the paddle steamer era. The rail line from Sydney reached Albury in 1881. The first railway bridge over the Murray was opened in 1883. Due to differences in the gauge of railway lines between the two states, Albury and Wodonga became changing stations for passengers and freight. The standard gauge on the Sydney–Melbourne line was not available until 1962.
***
Harvey closed the folder on his desk and pushed it to one side. He was meeting Ellie at their cabin out at the Weir tonight. He felt himself harden at the thought of the lovely Ellie. Everything about her was beautiful. He could see her naked in his mind. His lips formed a smile at the thought of what the night would bring.
‘Ah, Harvey my boy, comin’ to Albury sure was the best move you could make,’ he thought, feeling very sure of himself.
‘No one’ll suspect the truth, least of all my sexy Ellie. Everythin’s goin’ fine and dandy now,’ he smirked.
Standing up, he pushed his chair back, grabbed his sports jacket from the back of it and, humming a tune, he sauntered to the door.
***
‘Aah! Shit!’ Karl swore, tucking his hand under his armpit and screwing up his face.
‘What’d ya do, mate?’ Digger called across to him.
‘Cut me bloody hand.’
‘Bad?’
‘Nah, but it friggin’ hurt!’
They were in the orchard tending the trees.
They had been hard at work since daylight and were feeling very tired. Eric, Des and Sam were also there giving them a hand.
The rich fruit growing area was gradually getting back to normal after the turmoil the firebug had created.
There were still people in the valley who were convinced Eric had been the firebug regardless of the fact that he was acquitted of all charges against him.
Usually at pruning time and then again in the picking season, the people would rally together to lend a hand. Now, because of the rift in the community, the number of helpers had dwindled dramatically.
‘Hey Karl, how about we take that ferret of yours up the hill next Sat’dy and do some rabbitin?’ Des called out.
Karl had sat down under a tree to wrap his cut hand in his handkerchief. ‘That’s a good idea. I could do with a nice rabbit stew.’
‘I’ll come too. I like nothin’ better than a day out rabbitin,’ Eric called.
Rabbit hunting in the hills surrounding the valley was a favourite pastime with the locals. Before the firebug began his rampage, the men would pack up their rucksacks and take their spotlights and head up into the hills for the weekend. They would leave Friday evening, returning Sunday afternoon grubby and happy to hand over their catch for Hazel to create one of her many delicious meals.
Rabbit recipes were a common thing: baked rabbit, stewed rabbit, all were delicious and cooked mostly on wood fired stoves.
***
‘Ah beautiful blue eyes, every day brings us one step closer.’
He was sitting on a log, basking in the sun, deep in the hills looking at the photo he had pulled from his breast pocket. Saliva dribbled from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with the back of his hand.
‘All these years, you bitch. All these years you made me suffer… Soon it’ll be your turn. I’ll make you pay for what you did,’ he snarled.
Tucking the photo away, he sat gazing into the open space in front of him.
‘It’s time ta get on with tha job.’ Muttering to himself, he leaned across to a box nearby and began fossicking though its contents.
***
Darcy dropped Daryl off in Dean Street and he and Eileen were alone in his car.
‘Like a drive out to the Weir?’
Eileen nodded and settled comfortably into the seat. ‘Gee, this is some car.’
‘Yeah, she sure is a beauty.’ He patted the dashboard with one hand. ‘She’s gotta lotta guts too.’
‘Well, show me how fast she goes when we get out onto the Weir road,’ Eileen suggested. She loved nothing better than the thrill of speed.
They drove across the border and through Wodonga, heading onto the road that led out to the Hume Weir. Darcy put his foot down and the speedo quickly crept up to one hundred miles per hour. The car hugged the road as they shot along flat out.
Eileen felt the adrenalin race through her veins. Darcy concentrated on his driving and kept the speed up along the straight stretch of road until a bend came into view. He eased his foot slowly off the accelerator, bringing the speed gradually back down.
‘How was that, eh?’ he asked, exhilaration in his voice. He too loved the thrill of a fast car.
‘That was absolutely fantastic!’ Eileen enthused, flushed with excitement.
‘Well, we can do it again sometime if you want. I like a girl who likes a thrill.’
Eileen quickly accepted. She was smiling and blushing as she stared out the window.
He glanced at her, thinking ho
w pretty she looked even with her flushed face.
‘Why don’t we go to the drive-in tonight?’
‘Yeah, I’d like that.’ Eileen couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across her face.
‘I’ll shout tea as well,’ Darcy offered.
‘Oh, ok, but I’ll have to find a phone box and give Mum a call or she’ll worry if I don’t show up for tea.’ They arrived at the Hume Weir and Darcy pulled to a stop outside the milk bar. Eileen got out and went to use the phone outside the shop. Darcy watched her and admired the swing of her hips as she crossed the short distance from the car to the phone box. For a fleeting moment, he could imagine those long tanned legs wrapped around him.
‘C’mon, Darc, behave,’ he thought.
***
Darkness had closed over the valley and the men had finished for the day and gone home. A figure emerged from the shelter of the gum trees surrounding the dam on the Kia-Ora property. He stood with hands on his hips, legs slightly apart.
‘Bloody Mason bastards, up ya selves the lotta ya! Always thought you’se were too good for the likes’a me. Well arseholes, I’ll show ya who’s too fuckin’ good.’
His harsh words carried off into the darkness with the breeze. The figure slunk back among the trees, swallowed up by the darkness of night.
On the other side of the orchard, the lights from Kia-Ora twinkled.
Karl called goodnight as he left by the front door. He was in a hurry to meet Mary and was already running late. He whistled as he hurried out to the car. As he reached it, he stopped and looked behind him. Something unnerved him.
‘Ah, shit, can’t let every bloody noise spook me,’ he thought as he slid in behind the wheel and drove off.
The figure crept out from behind a tall pine tree. A quick search and he found what he was looking for. A flick of his wrist and the job was done!
***
Harvey waited impatiently for Ellie. She was late and he was anxious to be with her. He hadn’t made love to her for a week now. His thoughts drifted to Mary. He didn’t want her to know that he had discovered her affair with Karl. He laughed loudly. ‘Think you’re clever, don’t ya? Well, we’ll soon see who’s clever!’ He had known now for almost a year. He had been leaving a café in Wodonga when he spotted Karl and Mary across the other side of the street. Harvey had ducked quickly out of sight and watched as they got into Karl’s car. The intimate way Karl had his arm around Mary told Harvey all he needed to know. This information would come in handy when the time came to put his plans into action.
‘Not much longer and I’ll have enough money and I’ll be free. Thank fuck!’ he thought.
The sound of a car pulling up interrupted his thoughts. ‘Ellie… At last.’ He smiled.
He quickly poured two glasses of wine and placed them on the bedside table. He heard the cabin door open and then Ellie was there, framed in the doorway.
In two strides, he was across the room, wrapping her in his arms.
Ellie’s arms went around his neck, her hands travelled through his hair. She felt his hands on her buttocks, pulling her closer. She could feel his arousal. A moan escaped her lips as Harvey kissed her neck.
He guided her towards the bed, undressing her as they went. The last of her clothes fell to the floor. She lay back on the bed naked, watching as Harvey stripped his clothes off, dropping them beside hers. The bed creaked as he lowered his weight onto it.
He began kissing her feet. Slowly, he trailed the kisses up her legs, across her stomach, pausing to flick his tongue into her navel. Ellie gasped with pleasure. She reached for his shoulders, digging her nails into his flesh. As his expedition went up… kissing, licking, sucking, she felt his warm wet tongue on her breasts. Arching her body, she asked for more.
Harvey teased her rigid nipples with his tongue. He placed his mouth over one, sucking gently. To the other, he gave the same pleasure.
The exploration of her body started to drift downward again, lower and lower. She could feel his tongue at work in the hungry wetness between her legs, his mouth sucking, his tongue probing. Red hot spasms of ecstasy shot through her.
Harvey sensed her need and raised himself over her. Holding her gaze, he lowered his body, thrusting gently with his rigid penis. Ellie wrapped her legs around him. Slowly in and out, he slid his hardness taking it out almost completely, toying with her, massaging the outside of her with his glistening tip. Ellie was frantic with arousal now, pleading for more. Harvey groaned in pleasure and gave her all of him, together moving faster, building to an explosion of passion, forcing cries of pleasure from both of them as they reached their peak.
Harvey rolled to one side. Their bodies shining, damp from their lovemaking. They lay spent, eyes closed. Ellie turned on to her side, trailing her fingers across his chest. He turned his head and smiled. She leaned over and kissed him lovingly.
‘I love you, Harvey. I have never felt so fulfilled.’
‘I love you too, my darling.’ He reached across to the bedside table, passing her a glass of wine. They clinked glasses and sipped. Ellie reached for the bottle. Gently, she pushed Harvey back into the bed. With a teasing smile, she let droplets of wine fall in a trail down his chest onto his stomach and further. Her tongue followed until she reached Harvey’s again rigid penis. She sucked and licked and stroked with her tongue. She was driving him wild. He grabbed her, pulling her on top of him, thrusting his body into hers. He watched as her breasts gently bounced with her movements. Her nipples were erect and pleading for attention; he rolled them between his forefinger and thumb. Ellie was arching backwards and he could clearly see her excitement, so he stroked it gently. She cried out. Their lovemaking became wild, almost savage, both moaning loudly. Finally they climaxed, once more they lay together, exhausted… completely satisfied.
***
After enjoying a meal at a café, Eileen and Darcy made themselves comfortable in his car as they watched a horror movie at the Wodonga Drive-In. Eileen wasn’t finding the movie very frightening, but she wasn’t about to let on to Darcy. He stretched his arm out along the back of the seat, touching her on the shoulder.
‘Feel a little scared? You can move a bit closer if you want to.’
Eileen hesitated. She wanted to be closer to him, just felt a bit dubious.
‘C’mon Eileen, I won’t bite,’ Darcy urged, massaging her shoulder.
She slid across the seat. Darcy wound his arms around her, pulling her closer. The only light inside the car was filtering though from the screen in front of them. Eileen felt a twinge of shyness at the feeling of being completely alone with him.
Darcy turned her face to meet his.
‘Don’t worry, Eileen, I’m not gonna hurt ya.’ He bent his head and covered her mouth with his. His kiss sent Eileen’s senses soaring. She felt herself instantly respond and her arms went around his neck. Her lips parted beneath his; she felt his tongue probe inside her mouth. Without warning, he slid them down onto the seat, kissing her deeply and she eagerly returned his kisses.
Darcy’s breath was coming faster as he pushed his hand under her shirt. Eileen moaned and deepened her own kisses as new sensations shot through her.
It wasn’t until Darcy ran his hand up her thigh that her sanity returned. Struggling, she pushed him away.
He sat up, very much aroused. Eileen was trembling, shocked that she had let things go so far. Embarrassed, she attempted to rearrange her clothing.
‘I… I’m sorry Darcy. I didn’t mean for things to go so far!’
Darcy sat behind the steering wheel staring straight ahead, not answering immediately. He was very aroused and had to settle down.
After a minute, he looked at her and said, ‘It’s okay, babe, it’s not all your fault. We both were carried away, eh? How about I get us a drink. Won’t be long.’ He reached over and squeezed her hand before opening the car door and heading for the kiosk.
‘What the hell was I thinking?’ she thought, confused and emotional. ‘What
an idiot I am, I’ve just met the bloke.’
CHAPTER THREE
The full moon hung high over Hamilton valley, casting its golden glow over the earth below.
A figure emerged from behind the wattle trees that grew in clusters in the hills around the valley.
Tall and athletic, the figure stood silhouetted in the moonlight.
‘I can’t wait to see the look on their faces!’
He squinted at his watch, holding his wrist up so he could see the time in the moonlight. ‘Hmm, better get goin’.’ He disappeared into the trees.
An owl hooted from high up in a gum tree. Rabbits and possums scuttled away, disturbed by the intruder.
In the distance, the sound of cars and trucks could be heard travelling along the country roads nearby.
***
Karl was driving Mary back to her car. They had enjoyed a quiet romantic dinner. He had to cut the night short as had to be up at four thirty next morning. Mary understood. She was snuggled up close to him as they drove along.
She kissed his cheek. ‘One day we won’t have to part like this, Karl.’
Karl smiled affectionately at her. ‘Well, sweetheart, that’ll be the best day of my life.’ He took one hand from the wheel and took her hand, squeezing gently.
***
The lights went out at Kia-Ora except for the outside light left on for Karl’s return.
Up at Sam’s, all the lights were out. Everyone had gone to bed.
Further up at Dawn’s, the lights were also out except the outside one left on for Eileen.
Jeff snored softly beside Dawn in their four-poster bed. Dawn lay awake, unable to sleep until Eileen was safely home. She glanced across at the bedside clock, it showed 11.45pm.
‘She should be home anytime now,’ Dawn thought. ‘I’ll go make a hot chocolate. No use laying here staring at the ceiling. Eileen might like one when she gets home too.’
She slid quietly out of bed and slipped on her dressing gown, putting her feet into her slippers and padding silently to the kitchen. She reached into the cupboard for a saucepan. Filling it with milk, she placed it on the stove to heat. As she arranged two cups on saucers beside the sink, she glanced out the window.
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