Crimson Dawn
Page 26
‘This is Laura, Aunty Ruby. She’s Howie Murphy’s granddaughter. Laura, this is my Aunty Ruby.’
‘Hello,’ Laura said.
Ruby ignored her outstretched hand. ‘Great Aunt, actually,’ Ruby corrected. ‘So, you’re the baby Sean brought home from Queensland?’
‘Yes, that’s me.’ She let her hand fall to her side.
‘I’ve heard good things about you. About time Tim brought you to visit. Now, tell me, what’s happening on the farm? So help me God, if only I were up and able I’d be back out walking the paddocks of my father’s property.’
On safer ground, Laura launched into a discussion about Nambina in particular, and the district in general. Ruby asked informed questions and tutted at the story of Allie’s misadventure with the sprayer and tractor.
‘Oh, I miss all of that. Stuck in here, with all these . . . these . . .’ She waved her hand. ‘. . . people. Don’t know what it is about ageing men, but they all smell. Bit like the old rams in the ram paddock. Ugh!’
Laura bit her lip, trying desperately not to laugh, but Tim had no such qualms.
‘I guess we know you’re not chasing any of the blokes then, Aunty Ruby,’ he said, still chuckling.
Ruby turned back to Laura and spoke in a hushed tone. ‘I still get the Stock Journal, you know. Read it from cover to cover every Thursday. It’s like my bible. I know the nurses laugh at me behind my back, but I don’t care. I love it.’
‘I like reading it too,’ Laura said. ‘Lots of good information for farmers and station owners alike.’
After a pause, Tim said: ‘Aunty Ruby, we’ve got a question for you.’
‘Oh yes? Needed a reason to come and visit, did you?’
‘Absolutely,’ Tim said with a wicked grin on his face. ‘I wanted you to meet Laura.’
‘And what else?’
‘We were wondering about the Hunters.’
Ruby sat back in her chair and eyed Tim and Laura. ‘What about them?’
‘How long have they been around here?’
‘Now, are you talking about Mark’s family?’
Laura nodded, knowing that was Josh’s father’s name.
‘Poor devil. Cancer got him. Younger than me, he was.’
A couple of other residents hobbled past. ‘Jack!’ Ruby called out. ‘Jack!’ She raised her voice when he didn’t turn. ‘Deaf as an old post. Jack! Come over here. These young people are asking about Mark Hunter. You’d probably remember him better than I would. You’d have seen him at the markets.’
Jack turned at the sound of her voice. ‘What’s that, Miss Ruby?’ he said, a smile revealing white teeth.
‘They’re asking about Mark Hunter.’ She spoke clearly and loudly.
‘Ah, Mark Hunter. Top bloke. Yes.’
‘Then come and sit down.’
Ruby turned to Laura. ‘False teeth,’ she whispered, raising her eyebrows. ‘And he’s definitely an old ram.’
‘Remember his dad, so I do. Been around here for generations,’ Jack said as he shuffled over and settled next to Ruby. He tried to scoot a bit closer, but she moved away and placed her walker between them.
Laura glanced at Tim, trying not to giggle.
Tim cleared his throat. ‘How many generations have they been here?’ he asked.
‘What’s that, lad?’ Jack cupped a hand to ear.
‘How long have they been farming here?’
‘Let me see. There was Mark and his father, and his father before. I’d say at least three generations. Excellent farmers too, mind you. A bit conservative, but good nonetheless.’ He turned to Ruby. ‘I used to see him riding to school. He was a bit younger than me. Only reason I took any notice of him was because he was a bit of a daredevil on horseback.’
‘All of us who were on farms rode to school, Jack,’ Ruby said in a cutting tone. ‘And we all liked to have a bit of a play around. Give the horses their head.’
‘The good ol’ days.’
She pointed a finger at Tim. ‘That would make the Hunters fourth generation, then. Mark’s young son manages the place now, doesn’t he?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Do you remember Mark’s second wife?’ Laura asked carefully.
‘Unfortunately, yes,’ answered Ruby bluntly.
Laura was liking her more and more. ‘Goodness, nobody seems to like her,’ she said in a singsong tone.
‘Oh, she wrapped Mark around her finger good and proper,’ Ruby said. ‘Came in as a housekeeper and wiggled that tush of hers. I remember the gossip it caused.’
‘She had a very nice tush, from memory,’ Jack interjected.
Ruby gave him a withering look. ‘It was tragic, Mark’s wife dying in childbirth. Wouldn’t happen these days. But it did. Of course, Mark couldn’t cope by himself. He couldn’t run a farm and bring up a child at the same time.’
Laura wanted to ask why not. Her father had. But he’d had Howie, she reminded herself.
‘And he was grieving, poor man, and men are the weaker species.’ Ruby continued as if reading Laura’s mind. ‘When that woman turned up, she had her heart set on one thing, and she worked until she got it.’
Jack nodded in agreement. ‘Wasn’t long before they walked down the aisle and brought another little one into the world.
‘She was a bit too good for us down here.’
‘Where did she come from?’
‘Well, I don’t rightly know,’ Jack answered.
Ruby shook her head. ‘She was English, wasn’t she?’
‘No,’ growled Jack. ‘Course she wasn’t. Reckon she would have had to come from the city somewhere. She had a posh way of talking. And boy, could she dance.’
‘So she wasn’t married when she came here?’ Tim asked.
Ruby looked over at him and frowned. ‘No, dear,’ she spoke slowly. ‘She married Mr Hunter. Mark.’
‘Would you remember her maiden name?’ Laura asked, suddenly breathless.
Jack snorted. ‘We’re gettin’ a bit long in the tooth, young lady. My memory’s not what it was.’ He tapped the side of his head and grinned ruefully. Laura returned his smile. She liked this man and it was clear he was sweet on Ruby, even though she wouldn’t have a bar of him.
‘Speak for yourself, Jack Williams,’ Ruby said loudly. ‘I remember her name. It was all rather curious, when she turned up. It was the same as Mark’s neighbours and it caused some talk among the townspeople. It’s the same as yours, love,’ she turned to Laura. ‘It was Murphy.’
Chapter 35
2008
Tim and Laura didn’t talk much on the drive back to Nambina. Laura was visibly shaken and confused. She just couldn’t fathom how Glenda’s name could possibly be Murphy. It seemed bizarre.
Before they’d said goodbye to Ruby and Jack, Tim had the foresight to ask them if they knew of Thomas Murphy and what became of him. Neither of them did.
Then, as they were leaving, Ruby had grabbed Laura’s arm. ‘When you come back and visit me, you might tell me what this is all about.’
Now Tim reached over and held Laura’s hand. ‘I know you’re very special,’ he said above the noise of the engine. ‘And I shouldn’t degrade you to the commonness of, say, a “Smith”, but Murphy is a name that is heard a lot. She’s probably no relation at all.’
Laura continued to stare straight ahead. ‘You said you don’t believe in coincidences,’ she answered flatly.
When they arrived at the house, Sean’s car was parked outside. Laura could smell a roast cooking. Her family had arrived early.
Georgie came to the door to greet them. ‘Hello, darling,’ she said with a gentle smile. ‘How are you holding up? What a horrible thing for Meghan to do.’
Laura was so grateful to see her stepmother, she couldn’t speak. Georgie hugged her and stroked her hair, just as Laura remembered her doing when she’d fallen over at basketball or taken a scrape in the schoolyard.
‘Where’s Dad?’ she asked eventually.
‘Hi, Mrs Murphy. Good to see you, even if it isn’t under the best circumstances.’
Inside, Laura was surprised to see Poppy sitting at the kitchen table.
‘Hi, Poppy. Do you know Tim?’
‘I’ve heard of him. Hello,’ Poppy answered sullenly.
‘We decided we’d bring Poppy with us,’ Georgie said before Laura could ask. ‘She needs some time away from the city.’
Laura stared at her sister with growing fear. She’d seen that look before. Poppy looked exactly like Allie had: tired, pale, dull eyes.
‘It’s good to see you here,’ Laura said, clumsily trying to hug Poppy, who still hadn’t got up from the table. ‘I’ll go and find Dad.’
She left the room as Tim started to write everything they’d learned on one of the whiteboards. Laura could hear Georgie talking to him about his vet practice. For a moment, she stood in the passage leading to Howie’s part of the house. She was glad her family were here. When it mattered, they always were.
In the office she found her father bent over the filing cabinet. He was surrounded by papers. Tears pricked her eyes—how she wished she could stop being so emotional. It’d be better if she could stay angry and rant and rave, but the tears kept threatening to come and it made her feel weak. ‘Dad.’ She uttered the word in a strangled tone.
He shot up from the floor and crossed the room in two steps. ‘Laurs,’ he answered, folding her into a bear hug. ‘Oh, Laurs.’
They stood like that for the longest time, until Sean, still holding her, pulled back to look her in the eye. ‘I’m so sorry this is happening,’ he said. ‘We’ll beat them, though. You have my word.’
‘How can we, Dad? Tim and I have just been talking to his great Aunty Ruby. She told us Glenda’s maiden name was Murphy.’
The surprise was plain on his face. ‘What?’
Laura nodded. ‘That’s what she told us.’
Sean sighed and rubbed at his head. ‘I never knew! Well, that’s thrown a spanner in the works.’ He turned and indicated the mess of papers. ‘Good Lord!’ He let fly with an expletive, then said: ‘You and Meghan may be cousins!’
Shock filtered through Laura. ‘Bloody hell.’ She looked around wildly, not knowing how to react. ‘Cousins?’ she repeated, as the words began to sink in.
‘I’ve been looking for anything in here that might help us—birth certificates, death certificates, diaries, something. I haven’t found anything yet.’
Laura flopped into the chair and leaned back, tired of the whole thing already. She told him how she and Tim had been through the office in the morning and what they’d found.
‘It looks like you were right, that Thomas went to war and was killed. We found a postcard from one of his air force mates saying he’d been shot down. It’s out in the kitchen.’
They were silent for a few moments before Laura ventured to say: ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think Poppy has a problem.’
Sean nodded sadly. ‘I know she does.’
‘She looks just like Allie did.’
‘That’s why we’ve brought her. To get her away from everything up there. Need to give her something to do, something to make her feel useful. See if we can get her back.’
Laura just nodded. ‘I’ll do what I can.’
Sean’s face was filled with pain. ‘I know you will.’
Georgie pushed back her plate and looked around the table. ‘It sounds to me like we need to concentrate on Glenda’s side of the family. Work out where the connection is.’
‘It’s got to be through Thomas,’ Laura said.
Tim shook his head. ‘As I said before, Murphy’s a common name. Doesn’t have to be through him at all.’
Laura threw him a dismissive look. ‘It’s too coincidental,’ she said.
Sean sat silently. Laura was sure he looked like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the right words. ‘Dad?’
‘Hmm?’
‘You’ve got something to say?’
He looked beaten but started to talk. ‘This is just an idea. But Ernest was free to leave his farm to whoever he wanted to, wasn’t he? Yes, all this happened during the time when it would have usually gone to the eldest son. As Thomas wasn’t around, Howie got it. But that doesn’t mean Howie couldn’t have verbally promised it to someone else, does it?’
‘What?’ gasped Laura.
‘I’m not saying it happened, Laurs, but I can’t work out why Meghan would think she had a claim. It’s the only reason I can come up with.’
‘Papa wouldn’t have done that, Dad. He wouldn’t hurt me like that. Or you.’
‘If it was a verbal promise, but there was a will that stated otherwise, the promise won’t hold up in court,’ Tim said.
‘I know all of that,’ Sean said. ‘He may have made it before either of us were around. I’m wondering if that’s why she thinks she’s got some sort of claim, though. Somehow, someone promised something to Glenda, her being a so-called Murphy, and now she’s getting Meghan to claim it.’
The silence around the table was so heavy Laura couldn’t bear it. She wanted to scream and hit out and cry. But that wasn’t an option. They had to fight, and giving way to emotions would only blur her thinking. Her mind was whirring. Suddenly she brightened. ‘I’ve got an idea!’ She looked at Poppy. ‘Are you good with computers?’
Her sister snorted. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Isn’t there some computer program you can use to draw up a family tree? I’ve seen them advertised on TV. “Heritage Families” or something? Could you have a go at using it?’
‘I’m sure I could figure it out. Shouldn’t be too hard.’ Poppy looked perkier than she had on the first day. Out of the corner of her eye, Laura could see Sean smiling with approval.
‘And do you know what I’m going to do?’ Laura said. Everyone waited. ‘I’m going to Adelaide. I’m going to find Glenda and pay her a visit. I can’t go near Meghan—the letter states that, but it says nothing about extended family. I’ll find her and ask her who her father was.’
‘Oh, Laurs, do you think that’s wise?’ Georgie asked, concern etched on her face. ‘I’d imagine she knows exactly what her daughter is up to. I can’t think she’ll welcome you with open arms.’
‘I don’t care.’ The anger was back now and, thankfully, it was overwhelming the worry. ‘It’s my farm. Or ours. Even if there is a blood link or a promise, they’re not entitled to it. They haven’t worked it, they don’t know its moods or love it the way I do. The way Papa did. And Dad, if what you told me about Thomas is true—and that’s where the connection is—well, he obviously didn’t love Nambina, either. He walked away.’ She saw Tim nodding in agreement.
‘That’s all true, Laura,’ Tim said. ‘But a court of law may not see it that way.’ The voice of reason.
‘I’m not lying down.’ Her eyes flashed.
‘I can’t imagine loving something so much,’ Poppy said quietly before seeming to shrink in her chair as everyone looked at her.
‘It’s a matter of principal,’ Sean said to no one in particular. ‘Would you like me to come with you?’ He asked Laura.
She shook her head. ‘No. I’ll do this by myself.’
‘How will you find her?’ Georgie asked.
‘Someone around here will have to know.’
She felt Tim touch her arm. ‘It’s completely unethical for me to tell you this, but her bills go to a post office box in Adelaide. She must still pay the accounts for Meghan and Josh. I won’t tell you the address, but I can tell you where to go to watch for her.’
Everyone looked at him.
‘That’d be brilliant,’ Laura breathed.
As Laura negotiated the city traffic, she practised what she’d say to Glenda when she opened her front door. All the sentences started with �
��bitch’, but she figured that wasn’t the best way to get a positive response. She’d have to keep working on it.
After finding the street she needed, she parked along from the post office and fed enough coins into the metre to cover four hours. Realistically, she knew Glenda may not even collect her mail every day. She might collect it after hours. Laura just had to hope.
Needing a coffee, she quickly crossed the road to a café and ordered a takeaway. She kept looking behind her, fearful she’d miss Glenda. Returning to her ute, she set up watch. While Laura hadn’t laid eyes on Meghan’s mother in years, she remembered her only too well, and was confident she’d recognise her, unless Glenda had changed dramatically.
People came and went, inserting their keys and grabbing items from the boxes. Smartly dressed businessmen and -women walked quickly to nearby offices; school kids loitered outside the newsagent. The pavement was continually busy. All the activity reminded Laura of ants building their nests before the rains came.
Cars rushed past and occasionally an irate horn sounded. It made her dizzy, but she tried to see every driver as they stopped at the lights, tried to canvas the whole area in case Glenda arrived and she missed her.
By her third coffee in as many hours, Laura was getting jumpy, and was beginning to regret her decision not to bring someone with her. Then a silver Mercedes glided to a stop at the traffic lights. She watched as the driver flicked on the indicator, pulled into an empty five-minute parking spot and climbed out.
Laura recognised the casually stylish woman immediately. Glenda walked to the mailboxes, took out her letters then returned to her Merc.
Laura’s heart was pounding as she started her car and waited for the woman to drive off. Once she did, tailing her was difficult. Laura hadn’t really thought it through, assuming that following a car was as easy as it looked in the movies. She found out very quickly that it wasn’t. Once, when the Merc ran an orange light, Laura thumped the steering wheel, certain she’d lost her. She caught up at the next set of traffic lights and, grinning, yelled a loud, ‘Yes!’
The traffic had thinned by the time Glenda made a series of turns through residential streets lined with impressive homes that oozed affluence.