by Di Morrissey
Camboni had known all along that Colin would take the job. It was tantamount to a direct order when he had called him up to his penthouse and told him he was now in charge of the place and to get on with the job without bothering him. Colin was used to Alfredo’s dismissive attitude and he knew Camboni’s real interest was in getting the casino approved and a State government licence to operate it. Alfredo told Colin that once it was approved, he would be needed to work on the casino too.
Dina had shown little enthusiasm for Harmony Hill, being much more interested in the casino, so Colin now lived at the resort during the week and went to the Gold Coast only on weekends. As usual, Dina had won the day and had purchased the pink penthouse in partnership with her father. It was her money, and in her name. That suited Colin fine — he was past feeling a kept man by the Cambonis’ money. Alfredo’s fortunes seemed to rise and fall like the tide and Colin was never sure exactly where the money came from and he never asked. Dina had always been tightlipped about her father’s business and professed to know little, but Colin knew Alfredo shared many secrets with his daughter. When they’d first lived in Italy Colin had been kept in the dark about the business dealings, which had been easy because of his difficulty with the language. But as he began to understand more and more, he decided silence and disinterest would serve him best. Gradually he had been included in several of Camboni’s operations, but the inner machinations of the family business still remained closed to him.
Colin intended to do as little work as possible at Harmony Hill so he had made Bruce his right-hand man. Bruce had done all the planning and now the yurt conference centre was well under way with several smaller yurts linked from it like spokes from a wheel. The airy wooden buildings came prefabricated and were swiftly erected. More staff were hired, a task Colin left to Bruce, who seemed to find unemployed talent overnight. Colin’s suspicion of these long-haired, smiling, laid-back dreamers diminished somewhat when they proved themselves hard and creative workers. They had the attitude that doing something they enjoyed was more important than hustling and fighting for bucks doing something that didn’t make them happy.
‘But the whole world can’t operate on that principle, Bruce,’ said Colin, cynical of a philosophy that placed so little value on money. ‘Someone has to do the bad jobs.’
‘But what might be a bad job to one, mightn’t be to another. And some people can do a mundane boring job and walk away from it at the end of the day and not be unhappy or bothered by it. Maybe they go home to their creativity, they make something, or enjoy their sport or their family. Be true to yourself and show kindness and tolerance to others and you’ll be fulfilled,’ he quoted.
‘Who said that?’
‘Me.’
Colin laughed. ‘Okay. But the first bloke I see contemplating his navel on the job gets turfed out.’ Colin still thought that all this new age philosophy was rubbish, but he kept his opinion to himself at Harmony Hill.
Colin had moved into one of the resort’s bungalows and found himself spending a lot of time with Bruce, his three-year-old daughter Greta, and his wife Ria, a soft sweet woman who had a lovely laugh. Over numerous dinners at their house, Ria told Colin about alternative remedies and therapies, including traditional Chinese medicine and techniques designed to reduce stress, create inner strength and peace, and help the body recover from the abuses of daily life. She told him about reiki, shiat’su, acupuncture and aromatherapy. ‘You see, Colin, lots of people don’t feel well and that can be due to their general health, their lifestyle or emotional problems. Emotional hurt is held in every cell of the body not just the head and the heart, and sometimes that manifests as physical pain. Treat that and then the psyche and self-esteem can improve and a feeling of wellbeing results.’
Ria had talked him into a massage each week and she found Colin’s body taut and knotted. ‘You’re holding a lot inside you, and have been for a long time,’ she said quietly. ‘You should let it all go, Colin. This isn’t good.’ She didn’t probe by asking questions, but dug her fingers deep into his tense muscles trying to release feelings of anger and bitterness buried for many years.
Surrounded by this healthy and wholesome family life, Colin missed the company of his sexy wife and the weekends on the Coast were mostly spent in bed. The sex kept them both satisfied and stopped Dina being overly curious about what Colin did during the week. But Dina was too deeply involved with Fisher Morgan, the interior designer she had hired to decorate the pink penthouse, to worry too much about what her handsome husband was getting up to without her. She was so impressed by Fisher that she decided she should bring him to Harmony Hill to do the interiors there.
When she told him, Colin threw up his hands in horror. ‘Dina, it’s not that sort of place — glitz and phoney antiques and themes. We don’t want a jungle room and a rose room and all that stuff. It’s down-to-earth simplicity and purity.’
‘Who wants to stay in a plain place? On holiday you want a bit of glamour,’ she retorted.
Colin gave up for the moment. ‘Wait until closer to the opening, and we’ll see.’
‘Talking of openings, you should hear the plans we have for the casino. It will put Monaco in the shade.’
‘The casino isn’t even built yet!’ exclaimed Colin.
Dina’s buoyant manner changed in an instant and she looked concerned. ‘I know. Poor Pappa, he is having a terrible time. There is a lot of opposition to it, more than we thought there’d be. How can people be so stupid? It will improve the place!’
Colin had heard Bruce and Ria’s views on what they called the Monstrosity, planned for a piece of State-owned land currently used as a community park. He made a mental note to tell Dina not to mention the casino should she ever meet the Gadens.
Compared to plans for the casino, Harmony Hill was small potatoes. But it gave Colin space away from his wife’s prying eyes to formulate his own plans, and because Bruce did most of the work, he had plenty of time on his hands. Colin was still mulling over his father’s will and he began to wonder exactly what Patrick’s motives had been. Colin couldn’t remember, if he ever knew, when his father had made out his will. Had it been before their mother died, or after, when he had been so grief-stricken? Perhaps that was the clue he was looking for — Patrick had made out his will when in an emotionally unfit state, coerced and influenced by Queenie to make her the beneficiary of the two properties. Tragedy had struck Patrick down before he ever really recovered from Rose’s death and before Colin had made his peace with his father. Um, it sounded good, thought Colin. Well, it was something to go on with.
Saskia caught the bus to Brisbane and went to the hospital where Millie had arranged for her to meet TR and Jenni and accompany them to Tingulla. There was no news from Queenie and no response to calls to her two-way radio so when Jenni had called to say everything was organised for TR to come home, Millie had taken matters into her own hands.
Saskia found them in the hospital foyer. TR was leaning on his crutches and Jenni was completing some paperwork at the reception desk. A small bag of TR’s belongings sat in his wheelchair.
‘Hey, TR, you’re mobile! That’s great.’ She kissed him on the cheek.
He didn’t return the kiss but gave her a warm smile. ‘Only for short periods. And I’m not too good at stairs yet.’
‘Millie said she’s made up a room downstairs for you. So you won’t have to tackle too many steps and stairs at Tingulla.’
Jenni put the pen back in its holder on the reception desk. ‘Hi, Saskia. Well, here we are. This has been a big day all round. I’ve signed off and TR’s sprung, so we’re all yours.’
‘We hired a station wagon so we can fit the chair in. You and Jenni will have to share the driving. Is that okay?’ said TR.
‘That’s what I’m here for. Wow, it’s going to be so great to have you back. Everyone is really excited.’
‘I hope no one’s going to make any sort of fuss. I’m not ready for that,’ said TR nervously.<
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‘They understand. Maybe it’s a good thing Mum is away, eh?’ said Saskia bluntly. ‘Give you a chance to acclimatise.’
‘Any news from her?’ asked Jenni. ‘Where is she?’
‘We don’t know. But as she isn’t answering the two-way she’s either way out of range or off on horseback. Tango says we’re not to worry.’
TR again wondered at a woman heading out alone into the scrub to chase a bunch of cattle duffers. He thought back again to the phone call where she had calmly told him that a bunch of their prize bulls had been walked off Cricklewood by cattle duffers.
‘God, how did they get away with it?’ he reacted with genuine concern.
Queenie had explained matters as briefly as she could, adding, ‘I’ll get them back if it’s the last thing I do’.
TR had listened quietly and said, ‘My being in here hasn’t helped, I suppose. I wish I could help you, Queenie.’ He’d been touched by her sheer guts and obvious attempt not to concern him or make him feel his accident was a factor. He hadn’t realised it was the first time he’d called her by name since his accident and that it made Queenie’s heart ache.
She added quickly, ‘I can’t sit by and hope they turn up. People, the authorities, are being great, but they have a lot on their plate. If I don’t at least give this a go I couldn’t live with myself.’
‘I see,’ he answered, thinking to himself, ‘Christ, what sort of a woman have I married?’ He’d wished her luck and meant it.
Jenni’s voice brought him back to the present. ‘She must be some brave lady heading off on her own like that.’
‘Yeah, she’s pretty special,’ said Saskia.
‘Strikes me you’re both strong-willed women,’ said TR to Jenni.
‘Have to be, to keep cranky convalescents in line. Well, my gear is in the car, let’s hit the road.’
It was a peaceful and uneventful journey. At lunch time Saskia took over the driving as she knew the back roads to Tingulla. TR dozed in the back until they started on the home stretch to Tingulla.
Jenni was asleep and Saskia glanced over her shoulder. ‘We’ll be coming up to our land soon.’
TR nodded. He didn’t like to say that he could have been on the moon for all it meant to him.
As Saskia drove up the drive Jenni woke up and caught her breath at the sight of the homestead. ‘It’s magnificent!’
As the car came to a halt, Millie appeared at the door and came down the steps. She wore a good dress and no apron, her wavy hair oiled into a neat bun. A smile creased her face but Saskia could tell she was nervous. She hugged Millie and introduced Jenni, who shook her hand warmly and then turned to help TR from the car. She turned his legs and he dropped an arm across her shoulders. Her other arm went around his waist and she took his weight as he pulled himself from the car. Saskia opened the back of the station wagon to get his crutches out.
Millie watched and TR avoided looking at her till he was standing holding onto the car door. ‘Hello, Millie.’
‘G’day TR luv. Here let me help you.’ She stepped forward, trying to find a distraction as she was unsure how to approach him.
Jenni handed him his crutches. ‘Here are your sticks, mate. Millie, can we go in another door, those front steps might be a bit hard for him.’
‘Round to the side verandah. My, TR, you’re doin’ great.’
TR took a couple of steps then halted, looking questioningly at Millie. ‘Which way?’
‘Come with me. Dearie me, this seems odd, you not knowin’ your way about.’
‘I’ll learn it all again, Millie.’
‘Course you will, luv. Snowy and Jim are sitting in the kitchen, didn’t want to all rush you at once.’ She chattered walking beside him as TR made slow progress across the lawn.
‘Bring your stuff, Jenni, let’s go inside.’ Saskia pulled TR’s bag from the car, her heart aching at the strained homecoming.
At that instant a streak of mottled blue-grey hurtled across the lawn, flinging itself at TR, making him stumble. Jenni dropped her bag and rushed to steady him, trying to calm the whimpering dog that was licking TR’s feet and jumping in utter joy. As she reached to grab the dog’s collar, the cattle dog snarled at her and she drew back quickly.
‘Stop it, Spike!’ snapped TR. The dog backed off but stayed close to TR, his tail still wagging. ‘Guess this is my dog,’ said TR ruefully to Jenni.
‘Yep, I’d say so. How’d you know his name?’
TR looked at her in shock. ‘I don’t know. I guess Saskia mentioned it.’
TR followed Millie along the verandah to the north side where French doors stood open, leading into a guest room with its own bathroom and sitting room. ‘We thought being downstairs would suit you best, you can use your wheelchair along the verandah and down the hall to the rest of the downstairs.’
TR nodded, staring out into the secluded corner of the garden shaded by the giant peppercorn tree. How beautiful this place was. Had he appreciated all this? he wondered. He sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Give me a couple of minutes, Millie. I’ll just wash up and be right with you.’
‘Okey-doke. We’re all in the kitchen but we’ll have tea and scones on the back verandah soon as you’re ready.’
Saskia showed Jenni to her room upstairs at the far end of the house. Jenni stepped out onto the upper verandah, staring across at the panorama of Tingulla. ‘This is so beautiful. I can’t believe I locked myself up in the city for such a long time. I guess that’s one of the reasons I wanted to get out of the hospital. You wonder where the rest of the world is and what’s going on outside.’
‘Do you ride, Jenni? There are plenty of horses here if you want to go for a ride. Just ask Snowy or Ernie to get one of the boys to bring you a horse if you do.’
‘I’m a bit of an amateur, but maybe while I’m here I can improve on that. Not that I’m looking on this as a holiday, Saskia. I have a job to do, and I want to see TR up and about and completely rehabilitated as quickly as you do.’
‘Do you think his memory will come back at the same time?’
‘I don’t know, that’s not my area,’ she answered gently. But seeing the disappointment on Saskia’s face added, ‘But I’ve seen some amazing things happen in my time at the hospital. Let’s get his body functioning properly again and being here might well be the prescription for total recovery.’
TR followed the sound of voices and hobbled through the house, pausing to glance around him at the exquisite antiques, paintings and collectables arranged with discreet style. Had he had anything to do with all this? This was like waking up in the middle of a dream only to find the dream was reality.
He paused in the kitchen doorway, unnoticed for a moment, and quickly assessed who these people might be. The slightly stooped old Aborigine with the thin white hair and deeply wrinkled skin had to be Snowy. The weather-beaten white man with gnarled hands was probably Millie’s husband, Jim. Millie was directing a sweet-faced Aboriginal girl to carry the tray out to the verandah when she noticed TR. The girl gave him a dazzling smile. A silence fell on the room.
‘G’day,’ said TR with a slightly embarrassed grin.
‘You know everyone, don’t you?’ asked Millie bluntly, running through their names. ‘And Ruthie here. Take the tray outside, Ruth, and find Sas. Tell her to bring Jenni down to meet everyone.’
Five minutes later, Jenni and Saskia appeared and Jenni shook hands with each of them, then turned to Millie. ‘Would you mind if we took up some of those scatter rugs? They’re beautiful but TR could catch his crutch on one and trip.’
‘I managed just fine,’ protested TR.
‘You were being careful; when you’ve settled in a bit more you might not pay such close attention.’ Jenni poured his tea and handed it to him.
They all talked quietly about the shearing, and the Quinns, who had called to welcome TR home. ‘They send their best, said they’d be over when you were up to it,’ said Jim.
TR nodded and si
pped his tea, trying to work out who the Quinns were.
‘And still no news from your mum,’ Jim commented, trying to make conversation.
‘No. She must be in the boondocks on a horse; she’ll check in when she can,’ said Saskia.
‘If she’s hot on the trail of those bulls she mightn’t touch base for a bit,’ observed Jim.
‘She’ll want to know how TR is, so she won’t leave it too long,’ said Saskia, smiling at TR.
‘Soon as she hears he’s out of hospital, she’ll hot foot it back here, don’t you worry,’ said Millie.
TR looked down and turned his cup around in its saucer and Jenni gave him a sympathetic look. TR looked up at her and they exchanged a swift smile.
Millie paused and looked at them both, then turned back to the tea things, her heart anxious. This was hard for TR and it was obvious he relied on this Jenni girl a lot.
You get along home here, Queenie, she thought to herself. You and TR got t’get t’know each other agin.
Chapter Fifteen
The path through the brigalow trees was marked by fairly fresh tracks. Queenie let Honey slow to a walk. It had been a long day and she had been pushed hard. It was late afternoon and long shadows from the trees stretched across their path, the overripe light fading to sunset shades. The bush was motionless, a contentment settled over it as though each creature, each leaf, each living thing, had spent the day in tranquil observance.
For Queenie it had been a day of solitude; not one of introspection or loneliness, but of peace with herself and the world around her. She and her horse moved in harmony to the cadence of birdsong and the stirrings of the wind. Life was reduced to the simplicity of travelling, to the rhythm of one’s breathing and to the closing of one’s mind and simply being. Anger and confusion had dissipated into the beauty of the bush around her. Every little thing she saw, from a twisted branch on the ground to the curve of a treetop, seemed a work of art of such magnitude that no designer, architect or artist could possibly match it.
