Crimson Dawn

by Fleur McDonald

  Mac lit another smoke and sat down on the grass next to Thomas. ‘Your brother?’ he asked quietly.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Thomas said. ‘I’ve never made contact again. One night, when my father came home drunk, he said I looked like my mother. It was long after she left. Then he said he would change my face so I didn’t look like her anymore. That he wanted to wipe the earth of every trace of her. He hit me. That was the first time, but not the last. Howard didn’t look like her. There was more of my father’s side in him—he even had a bit of a temper like him, although he hid it very well. He just used to go off by himself and let off steam somewhere. I think Howard would have been okay.’ He added quietly, ‘I hope he is, anyway.’

  ‘I knew I’d picked you up from a bad situation, but I didn’t realise how bad,’ Mac said, clearly upset about Thomas’s revelations. ‘I’m happy I could help. But now you’ve got another option, other than me. To go visit them. They’re good people. Good farmers. Excellent animal handlers. I’m sure they would welcome you warmly. They are also your family.’

  The two men sat beside each other in the small Adelaide backyard, each lost in their reverie, each shaken in different ways. Finally Thomas broke the stillness. ‘I think I’d like to go and visit them.’

  ‘Then you should do it.’

  Thomas turned to him. ‘What about my wool classer’s stencil, Mac? You’re helping me get it and I don’t want to let you down. You’ve done so much for me.’

  ‘Listen to this piece of advice from a bloke who doesn’t have any family to a bloke who does. Go and get to know them, enjoy their company. Ask your questions. There’s time enough to finish that course and I know we’ll see each other again.’ Mac paused, seemingly to choose his words carefully. ‘But go to your father too. Like I’ve said before, you need to see him, talk to him, before you can put any of this behind you.’ He reached out and rested his hand on Thomas’s shoulder, before getting slowly to his feet and heading back into the house.

  It had taken Thomas another week to decide. Now here he was, on a bus, travelling to meet relatives he had never known. His mother’s parents, no less. Clutching a hope that he’d finally have some answers.

  He’d spent many sleepless nights thinking of this mysterious family. He’d tried to recall any memories his mother may have shared about them, but he’d drawn a blank. There had been nothing to indicate that Jessie had a family other than Ernest, Thomas and Howard.

  What would they be like? Would he recognise himself in his grandfather’s face?

  The bus ground to a halt and another two passengers got on.

  Thomas glanced at his watch again. The journey would last for at least another eight hours, so he pulled out a pen and notepad and started to write in painstakingly slow strokes:

  Dear Howard,

  I guess I have to apologise for leaving you by yourself with Dad. The argument between you and me the previous evening, and the last fight with that man was too much. I hope you have forgiven me. I have never stopped wondering how you are or thinking about you. Have to admit, I have tried to forget you, tried to forget the things that happened on Nambina—I wanted to wipe those horrible few years away. But I can’t. You’re my brother and no matter what, we are tied by blood.

  You’re well within your rights to not answer me. After all, I know I left you without warning or word.

  In case you are interested, I’m doing okay—I’ve been working in shearing sheds up north and enjoying it. It’s different from our country.

  During my travels I have found Mum’s family. They live on a farm out of Portland and run merino sheep. I am going to visit them as I write this. I have to find out what happened to her. Mum, I mean. Once I have, I plan to return to Nambina and talk to our father. I doubt I will stay long, but if you like, you can come with me back to the shearing sheds.

  With fondest regards,

  Thomas

  He looked at his writing—there’d been much scribbling out before he found the right words, but as Thomas read it back to himself slowly and carefully, he was pleased with what he’d said. He honestly had no idea how the letter would be received by Howard. He just hoped his brother would read it. It was now almost three years since he’d left Nambina. He couldn’t help but wonder what may have changed in his absence.

  He folded the letter and slipped it into his bag for posting when he arrived. He was reminded of Elizabeth, and he wondered whether she’d received his last letter, telling her of his plans.

  The sky was darkening now. As the bus turned south for a moment he caught a glimpse of the sun’s last rays barely visible to the west. He pulled out the packet of sandwiches he’d made for the journey and turned his back on the rest of the passengers. Slowly he ate, then he drew his shirt around him and closed his eyes. Maybe if he slept, the trip would pass more quickly.

  Chapter 20

  2008

  Allie reversed the tractor towards the posthole thumper and Laura guided her with hand signals. When everything was lined up, Laura signalled her to stop and pushed the split pins through the lugs to make sure the implement was connected tightly to the tractor.

  She gave a thumbs-up and motioned for Allie to drive back out into the paddock to where the new fence line was going to be built.

  Tegan and Robyn where already there, throwing the pine posts off the back of the ute at measured intervals.

  Laura watched as Allie headed down the two-wheeled dirt track, then checked the tray of her ute to make sure she had everything she needed. Wire spinner, hammers, staples, leather gloves, spirit level—that was the easiest way to make sure the posts were straight—and a cat.

  ‘Coming fencing, are you?’ she asked.

  Rusty just looked at her haughtily and jumped soundlessly onto the roof of the ute. He continued to watch so Laura stared straight back. She was too old for this game, but she enjoyed it. Finally the cat averted his gaze and, with a flick of his tail, he leapt to the ground and stalked into the shed.

  Laura watched him go. Soon he’d be curled up in the wool bin, which had a couple of fleeces in it. She’d purposely left some wool lying around so he had somewhere comfortable and warm to sleep.

  She knew she had about ten minutes before the tractor reached the paddock. It was mail day, so she decided to head down the driveway to check the mailbox. The idea made her heart beat a little faster, but she had decided that if Meghan was going to send something, the sooner she knew about it the better. She wouldn’t bury her head in the sand. She’d fight whatever was coming.

  She followed the gravel drive to where it merged with the main road. The mailman had been and there was a bundle of letters wrapped in an elastic band. Flipping through them, she once again breathed a sigh of relief. Nothing she wasn’t already expecting, although she had to admit she didn’t really know what she was looking for from Meghan.

  As she approached the paddock, she could hear the wooden thud of the posts hitting the ground. She saw Tegan in the back of the ute and Robyn behind the wheel, driving very slowly. They stopped when they saw her.

  ‘Going okay?’ she asked, leaning out of the car window.

  ‘Sure is,’ Tegan answered with a huge grin. ‘How could it be not so?’ She spread her arms out and threw her head back, looking towards the sky.

  Laura nodded in agreement.

  Allie left the tractor idling and jumped down from the cab. ‘So what’s the plan?’ she asked.

  ‘Let’s get a few of these in and then once you understand how the thumper works, I’ll let you all have a shot at using it. Looks like you’ve got most of the posts out and ready?’

  ‘There’s about another fifty metres to put out, then we’re finished.’

  ‘Okay, you two do that, and Allie and I will start.’

  Robyn and Tegan continued on their way.

  She explained carefully to Allie what she wanted her to do, then the girl slowly inched the tractor back until the pine post Laura was holding fitted tightly into the th
umper. She motioned for Allie to get out of the vehicle so she could show her how to use the new machine.

  Allie jumped down, but as she did so, the tractor started to roll backwards, its large wheels turning slowly down the slope. Laura, who was standing right behind it, gave a squeal as the pine post was forced back by the pressure of the machine and thudded into her shoulder. She tried to duck sideways, away from danger, but the post entangled her legs and she tripped, landing on her knees. As quickly as she could, she got to her feet and took a couple of steps backwards, her eyes still focused on the turning wheels.

  Unable to see behind her, she now stumbled into the line of wire running along the fence. The pressure made the steel strand snap and Laura fell backwards. The tractor kept coming. And coming and coming.

  Allie, at last realising what was happening, yelled to the others then grabbed hold of the handrail to pull herself back up into the tractor.

  Laura tried to crawl out of the way of the huge wheels. She had to stay out of the way of the massive tyres. Her heart was thumping like a bass drum and she fought the panic inside her. ‘Stop it! Stop it!’ she screamed in desperation.

  The engine died and all was quiet, except for her laboured breathing as she stared up at the impossibly blue sky.

  ‘Laura?’ Allie’s fear made her voice high-pitched and she fell out of the cab in her hurry. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.’ Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she collapsed next to Laura.

  Laura took a shaky breath. ‘I think I’m fine.’ She tried to wipe a wetness away from her cheeks and realised her hands were trembling badly. ‘Oh, hell,’ she muttered, then sat up and put an arm around the wildly sobbing Allie.

  ‘It’s okay, it’s okay,’ she comforted. ‘No one was hurt. It’s fine. Shh.’

  The other girls had made it back. Robyn jumped into the cab and moved the tractor away, while Tegan found a couple of jackets and draped them around Laura and Allie’s shuddering shoulders.

  Allie was shivering uncontrollably.

  They stayed that way for a while before Laura made a move to get up. ‘Come on.’ She held out her hand to Allie. ‘Let’s go back to the office and have a cup of tea. We’ll regroup.’

  They drove in silence except for Allie’s loud, uneven breaths.

  Inside the house, Laura boiled the kettle and made four cups of strong, sweet black tea and handed them out. She took Allie’s cup and threw a shot of brandy into it.

  ‘Drink,’ she commanded before taking a gulp from her own beverage.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Allie said again. ‘I don’t know what happened. I know I took the tractor out of gear.’

  ‘First things first. No one was hurt and that’s the main thing. But you must make sure that the tractor is in park, not neutral. If it’s in neutral, it can roll the way it did, and I’m guessing that’s what happened.’

  ‘It wasn’t in gear,’ Robyn ventured, her hands wrapped around the hot mug. ‘Not when I got into it, anyway. I think it was because it was on a small slope. It just rolled backwards.’

  Tegan glared at Allie for a moment. ‘Careless,’ she muttered, getting up from her chair.

  Allie stared at the table in silence.

  Laura covered the girl’s hand with her own. ‘A mistake,’ Laura corrected gently.

  ‘You could have killed someone.’ Tegan said it so quietly, Laura wasn’t sure she had heard it.

  Later in the day, when most of the shock had worn off, Laura checked her mobile phone for messages.

  There was one from Tim.

  ‘Random is ready to be picked up when you’ve got time,’ he had said. ‘See you soon.’

  Laura was keen to get Random home, so she’d just have to get over the self-consciousness she’d been feeling since Tim asked her out. She knew why she’d agreed to go with him, but the nerves attacked her whenever she remembered she had a date to go to the Baggy and Saggy Ball.

  With Tegan and Robyn on a stock run for the rest of the day, Laura decided she’d take Allie with her. That way, hopefully Tim wouldn’t mention it.

  The girl was curled up in a blanket on Laura’s couch. ‘Hey, Allie!’ Laura called from the doorway. ‘We can get Random. Let’s go and bring him home.’

  Allie turned slowly. ‘He’s okay?’ she asked quietly.

  ‘He must be. Tim wouldn’t let him leave the surgery otherwise. Come on!’

  They loaded a crate onto the back of Laura’s ute and called the others on the two-way to tell them where they were going.

  On the trip into town Allie sat silently staring out of the window. Laura wracked her brain for more words of comfort, but she’d already said everything she could think of. What was there to say, after all, when someone had almost killed you, other than ‘it’s okay’?

  ‘Allie,’ she began. ‘I need you to understand that mistakes happen. Some mistakes are more serious than others. But listen, you can’t dwell on this. All you have to do is learn from it and not make the same slip-up twice.’

  ‘I almost killed you.’

  ‘But you didn’t and I’m fine. Now come on.’ Impatience and a spark of anger flared in Laura’s chest. For goodness sake, she was the one who should be shattered. She was the one who had almost been killed.

  ‘Move on from it. You need to be stronger than this.’ She looked out of her side window as they passed Josh and Meghan’s mailbox and saw Josh’s ute speeding down the driveway towards them. Quickly she looked away.

  She drove past the 80 sign on the edge of Mangalow and then the 60 sign. Flicking on the blinker, she turned into the vet surgery and parked.

  Allie didn’t move for a moment then straightened her shoulders. ‘Okay,’ she said more to herself than to Laura. ‘Okay.’

  Laura hoped that was the changing point for Allie and she would be all right. She knew how lucky they all were. How lucky she was. WorkSafe would have had an absolute ball with an accident like that. They would have shut down the school quick as a flash. Although, she noted wryly to herself, if the teacher wasn’t alive then there wouldn’t be a school anyway.

  As they walked down the narrow path towards the surgery, a panicked male voice said: ‘Laura? Excuse me. Can I get by?’

  Laura felt her chest tighten as she recognised its owner without having to turn. Instinctively, she stepped aside, knowing there was something wrong. She pulled Allie with her.

  Josh, face taut, raced past, carrying a black and tan kelpie in his arms. The dog was shaking and his tongue was hanging out. The animal looked in a bad way.

  ‘Oh,’ Allie began then stopped.

  ‘Might be a bait,’ Laura commented. ‘Looks in a terrible state. Poor bloody thing.’

  They waited a moment or two before following. Inside the clinic, Laura noticed one of the consulting room doors was closing and the vet nurse had a grim look on her face. She tried to smile a welcome when she saw them.

  ‘Ah, Laura. You’ve come for Random?’ she asked.

  ‘Yeah, we have, Mel. Sorry, bad timing.’ Laura nodded towards the door, feeling something like disappointment. She didn’t think she’d be seeing Tim today after the way Josh had come in. Laura frowned and quickly refocused on Mel, pushing the feeling away.

  ‘Always busy in the surgery,’ Mel said. She motioned to the passageway that led into the backyard. ‘Random’s out there.’ She grabbed an envelope and plastic bag and handed them to Laura. ‘It’s from Tim,’ she said. ‘All the instructions and antibiotics are in here.’

  ‘Great, thanks. Here you go.’ She passed everything over to her student, who almost snatched at it, she was so eager to help.

  Mel showed them out into the yard. Two horses stood tethered to a holding rail and a vet was rasping one’s teeth down. Dog kennels lined the back fence and most of the occupants were sleeping. Mel pointed towards a rusty iron shed. Inside, Laura let her eyes adjust to the semidarkness. Then she saw him. Random was standing tall and as they watched him, he sniffed the air.

  ‘Hello there, b
eautiful boy,’ she whispered and went over, hand outstretched.

  Random nuzzled her fingers and made a small grunting noise.

  ‘He’s pleased to see you,’ Allie said.

  ‘He’ll be happy to see you too,’ Laura said without glancing at her. She tried to look at the injury without hurting him. She swung a leg over the railing and got into the pen. ‘Can you hold his head?’

  Laura put her hands on his back and leaned over. The stitches were still there, but the wound looked healthy. His balls weren’t swollen and he didn’t appear to be in any pain.

  ‘Excellent,’ she said more to herself than anyone.

  ‘Want me to get the ute?’

  ‘Yes, please.’

  Laura watched carefully as Random walked quietly up and into the crate. ‘Different animal. Look!’ she said to Allie, remembering her role as teacher. ‘See how his gait is steady and smooth? And there’s no swelling anywhere around his scrotum.’ She pointed.

  Allie, standing at the side of the ute, looked up under his girth. ‘Looks a damn sight better than it did that day at the show. Especially with all the bloodied wool clipped away.’

  ‘Doesn’t it?’ Laura agreed.

  ‘Ah, there you are.’ Tim appeared, wiping his hands. ‘Sorry I couldn’t help you load him. Bit of an emergency.’

  ‘We saw,’ Laura said. She looked at Tim for a moment. It had been a while since she’d seen him and she’d forgotten how tall he was. His fingers were long and nimble, as a good surgeon’s should be, but with his tanned face and muscled frame, he could be mistaken for a farmer. The memory of him in a suit at Howie’s funeral made her smile at him more brightly than she’d intended.

  There was no doubt she was now deeply indebted to this man—he’d performed a miracle. ‘Thanks for everything, Tim,’ she said sincerely. ‘You don’t know how much I appreciate it.’