by Anna Jacobs
‘If you feel that way about men, I think you should go into a nunnery. You’ll be quite safe from men there.’
‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Locking me away. That’s what my brother wanted to do. I’d go mad locked up behind stone walls.’
She reached out to stroke the nose of a young mare and the animal let her, though normally it shied away from strangers.
‘You can’t stay here, Kathleen,’ he said, but without the heat of his earlier remarks. ‘We’d make each other unhappy.’
‘I don’t have anywhere else to go. And I’m unhappy already.’
‘You can stay till I find you somewhere else to live, but remember, this is my mother’s house, not yours. She gives the orders here and I’ll not have you ill-treating my servants.’
Anger flashed in her eyes but she didn’t say anything, just pressed her lips together.
‘We’d better rejoin the others.’
‘I’ll stay with the horses till it’s dinner time.’
‘I’ll send someone to fetch you when the food is ready.’ He looked up as someone moved out of the stables.
She followed his gaze. ‘That’s Sean. I remember him from Shilmara. He helped your mother escape. Your father was very angry. You shouldn’t keep such a villain working for you.’
‘I was glad to have him, glad he’d helped my mother. He’s very good with horses.’
‘That’s all you care about, your mother and your horses.’ She turned away and began to walk along the edge of the field towards the next enclosure where some yearlings were grazing.
He hesitated for a moment or two, not liking to give her free rein to wander around, but unable to think what else to do with her. At least out here she wasn’t being rude to his mother and servants, and he trusted her with animals.
He turned to Sean. ‘Don’t let her order you around.’
Sean shrugged. ‘She’ll try. But she’ll not hurt the horses, that’s the main thing, and being here gets her out of your mother’s way.’
Conn smiled briefly as he walked back to the house. Sean always knew what was going on, even though he spent most of his time in the stables.
After hesitating for a moment, he went to find Ronan. How terrible that his mother had died on the journey here. No wonder Ronan looked so sad at times.
8
An hour’s drive away from Galway House, the eldest of the four Blake sisters, Cassandra, sat beside the bed of her old friend, Kevin Lynch.
She wiped his brow and smoothed back his sparse white locks. ‘Can I get you a drink?’
‘No, lass. I’m beyond . . . thirst . . . now.’ He paused a moment to catch his breath. ‘I’ll not be . . . troubling you . . . much longer.’
She didn’t try to deny that. He’d lived longer than anyone had expected him to and they’d all been happy together. ‘We shall miss you, Kevin. You’ve taught us so much about farming in Australia. I don’t know how we’d have coped without you.’
He smiled. ‘You’ve been like . . . the children I never had.’
Reece came into the room as Kevin said this and went to sit on the other side of the bed. He raised one eyebrow at his wife and she gave a little shake of her head. He took Kevin’s wasted hand gently in his.
‘Need to tell you.’ The old man fought for breath. ‘I’ve left everything . . . to you, lad.’
‘I thought this farm would go to your nephew,’ Reece said.
‘He never wrote back. Doesn’t deserve it.’
‘That’s very kind of you,’ Cassandra said.
A small child began crying in the next room and Kevin smiled at her. ‘Go and tend to . . . little Sofia.’
When she’d gone Kevin said, ‘Conn has the will. Drawn up properly . . . and witnessed.’
Reece bowed his head, thinking that fate was being very kind to him and his wife. They’d come to Australia with almost nothing and now they’d have a farm of their own, small but promising. When he looked up again, Kevin was asleep, breathing shallowly and slowly.
He sat on for a few minutes, still holding the old man’s hand, thinking what a difference it’d make to him and his family to own this farm, then something about the silence made him look more carefully at the figure on the bed. Kevin had simply stopped breathing. His expression was tranquil. It had been an easy passing.
Reece closed the staring eyes, murmuring, ‘Thank you. And not just for leaving us the land, but for everything you’ve given us.’ Then he raised his voice. ‘Cassandra?’
She came to the door, the child in her arms.
‘He’s gone. So peacefully I didn’t notice it at first.’
‘I’m glad it was easy for him. Eh, but I’ll miss him.’ She went to pat Kevin’s cheek with her free hand, then became practical and set her little daughter down while she covered his face with the sheet. ‘We’ll bury him tomorrow, shall we?’
He nodded.
‘You’d better go and tell the Southerhams. They may want to attend, out of respect for a good neighbour, even if he was once a convict.’
Reece grimaced. ‘I don’t enjoy going there. The farm is in a worse mess every time I visit them. Leo does his best, poor lad, but except where animals are concerned, he doesn’t think to do something unless they tell him – and half the time Livia has her head in a book or Francis is sitting with his beloved horses, so they don’t guide him as they should. It’s a good thing they’re not relying on the farm to bring in money, because it never will as long as they’re in charge. That’s gentry for you!’
‘Not all gentry are as impractical as them. Conn’s doing very well for himself.’ She looked round in a kind of wonderment. ‘It’s kind of Kevin to leave everything to us, isn’t it? Imagine owning our own home! That’ll make a big difference, won’t it?’
He gave her a quick hug, as he often did. ‘We’d have bought a place once your money came through from England, but this way I’m bringing something substantial to our marriage as well and that makes me feel good. I did wonder if Kevin might leave us something, from remarks he’s made lately. He never said it outright, though.’ Then he shook his head. ‘It seems wrong to be rejoicing when he’s just died.’
‘Life goes on and he’d want us to be happy. We didn’t care for him for gain, after all.’
‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘Go on! Let the Southerhams know. We won’t be able to get a priest here to bury him, but we can certainly hold our own ceremony and say the prayers. He’s already picked out the spot where he wants to lie. It’s beautiful there at the top of our little hill.’
Reece gave her another hug and dropped a light kiss on Sofia’s nose as the child came to cling to her mother’s skirts. ‘I’ll do that and afterwards I’ll ride over to Conn’s and see if they want to come to the burial. I’ll ask him what we need to do about the will while I’m at it. There’s plenty of time to get there and back before dark and I don’t think it’ll rain for a while yet. I’ll dig the grave first thing in the morning.’
‘I’ll lay him out.’
‘Do you want me to help you with that?’
‘No. I did it for my father and I’m happy to perform this last service for Kevin.’
‘You’re a wonderful woman and I’m lucky to marry you.’ He patted her stomach, which was just starting to swell. ‘If this one is a daughter, I hope she’s just like you.’
She chuckled. ‘She couldn’t be much more like me than Sofia is.’
His face softened into a smile. ‘Eh, she’s a little minx, that one.’ They both turned to smile at the child, who had dragged out a box of wooden blocks Kevin had made for her and was building a tower.
A short time later Cassandra saw Reece go striding off along the path through the bush that linked the two properties. She had so much to be thankful for, but most of all the fact that although Sofia wasn’t his child, her husband loved her as if she was. He always said she’d been sent to replace the child he’d lost when his first wife died in childbirth.<
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Cassandra turned to attend to Kevin, the last thing she could do for him. Keeping one eye on her daughter she brought water to wash the body and dressed him in clean clothes for his final journey.
Reece saw Leo digging in the Southerhams’ vegetable garden and waved to him. The two of them were lucky to have him, but he was lucky to have found a home with them, as well. His stepfather had sent him to Australia to get rid of him because he was slow-witted. He had a gift for looking after animals, though, which gave him the means to earn a living anywhere. He kept the stables in perfect order for the Southerhams without needing telling what to do, but wasn’t nearly as much use at the other farm jobs.
Reece shook his head at the sight of the ramshackle collection of sheds that he’d helped Francis build when he was working for him. Francis had begrudged the money to buy milled timber, so they’d used fallen trees and whatever they could find, just as Reece would be doing now that he had his own farm. The outbuildings might not look pretty, but they were waterproof and spacious enough for several horses, which was the main thing Francis cared about.
As he’d expected, Reece found his former employer sitting near his favourite horse on a sawn-off piece of tree trunk which he often used as a stool. He was shocked at how much Francis had gone downhill, even in the few days since they’d last met, and sighed at the thought of another death. They had no other near neighbours in this lonely place.
Livia had been nursing her husband devotedly for the past two years, but nature had decreed this was the way Francis Southerham should die. Even coming to a warm climate hadn’t helped him, though it had probably prolonged his life. Livia had once said she’d leave Westview Farm and start a school in Perth once her husband died. He couldn’t imagine her doing that, though. She wasn’t practical enough.
He hesitated, but it had to be said. ‘I came to tell you Kevin’s just died.’
Francis winced and Reece added hastily, ‘It was so peaceful that it was a minute or two before I realised he’d gone.’
‘I’ll probably die in agony with a coughing fit tearing my lungs apart.’
Reece sighed. Francis had been tossing remarks like that at him lately and it was hard to know how to answer them.
‘Did Kevin tell you he’s left you everything? Livia and I witnessed his will soon after we arrived. You fell on your feet there.’
‘He did mention it, but only at the very end. I didn’t realise he’d made the will so long ago. Why, he hardly knew me then! Conn has the will, apparently.’ He turned round as footsteps came towards them. ‘Good morning, Livia.’ He explained why he was there and saw her eyes flicker towards her husband.
‘I’ll come to the burial, but I think it’s a bit far for Francis to walk.’
‘And at the same time a bit too close to home.’ Her husband laughed bitterly at his own joke.
She didn’t answer, just took his hand and he clung to hers tightly.
‘We thought to bury Kevin tomorrow morning about ten, if that’s all right with you?’ Reece said. ‘We’ll have to perform the burial service ourselves. The travelling clergyman won’t be making his monthly visit to this district for another two weeks, and even then he won’t have time to ride out here to bless the grave. I’m going to ride across to Galway House now to let Conn and the twins know what’s happened.’
‘Give them our regards. I’ll walk with you to the path. I’ll be back in a minute, Francis.’
As they walked, she said, ‘Don’t take offence at how he speaks to you. He’s getting worse rapidly and that’s upsetting him. Leo had to help him walk to the stables today.’
‘It’d upset me too, if I was dying, so I’m not likely to take offence.’ Reece stopped to clasp her hand. ‘Don’t forget that we’re nearby if you need us. Any time, day or night. Just send Leo across.’
‘I know. Thank you.’
He turned just before he was out of sight to see her standing staring into the distance. She was a strong woman mentally, but it was hard to watch someone you loved die and how she found the strength to stay serene and supportive, he couldn’t imagine.
If anything happened to his wife, Reece didn’t know what he’d do. He’d lost his first wife, but hadn’t loved her nearly as much, poor lass. Marrying Cassandra was the best thing he’d ever done. They were partners in every way, sharing hopes, plans and the sheer hard work necessary to make a success in this new country. As for little Sofia, she had his heart held tight in her rosy little hands and she felt to be his daughter in every way that mattered.
Reece went home and saddled the horse, which now belonged to him, he supposed. Like Conn, Kevin had had an eye for a sound horse, and though she was rather ugly, Delilah was equally at home between the shafts or carrying a riding saddle. He patted her affectionately. He’d barely been able to ride or drive a cart when he came to Australia, but now he was confident about using either mode of transport. Today riding would be quicker.
Cassandra sent her love to her sisters, then went back to sorting out a clean nightshirt to bury Kevin in. Her child played at her feet, too young to be aware of what was happening, just knowing instinctively that she was safe.
It took Reece only an hour to ride to Galway House. He was surprised to see a stranger sitting on the veranda all alone. She was sour-faced but clearly a lady by her clothing, so he doffed his hat to her politely as he passed on his way round to the stables.
Conn was leaning on the fence having an earnest conversation with another stranger. They turned at the sound of the horse’s hooves and Conn murmured something to his companion then led him forward towards Reece.
The two friends shook hands then Conn introduced Ronan. ‘He’s brought your wife’s inheritance from Pandora. They’ve sold two of the cottages.’
Reece shook hands with the newcomer. ‘I’m glad to meet you.’ He turned back to Conn. ‘I’ve come with sad news, I’m afraid.’
‘Kevin or Francis?’
‘Kevin. He died peacefully this morning. We’re burying him tomorrow morning and wondered if you’d like to join us?’
‘I would normally, but I don’t care to leave my mother on her own at the moment.’ He hesitated then explained about his wife’s unexpected arrival and the fact that Kathleen was rather difficult to deal with.
Reece tried to hide his surprise at this news, but wasn’t sure he’d succeeded. No one had known that Conn was married. The poor fellow tended to keep himself to himself, having been snubbed many times because of being an ex-convict, but they all knew how Maia felt about him and it seemed unfair that he’d let her go on thinking he was free to love her. He became aware that Conn had said something. ‘Sorry. My mind wandered for a moment. What did you say?’
‘Xanthe and Maia may like to come to the burial,’ Conn repeated. ‘I can spare Sean to drive them across.’
‘Or I could do it,’ Ronan offered. ‘I’d like to see as much of the countryside as I can while I’m here.’
‘Aren’t you tired after your journey here?’
‘Not particularly. And I gather it’s only an hour or so away.’
‘Well, I’d certainly trust my horse to you, but you’ll probably have to sleep on the cart tonight and the weather doesn’t look very promising. There’s only a small house, you see. Kevin built it himself, as people do here.’
‘I’ve slept rough before and it’s not exactly cold, is it?’
‘No. Even in winter we rarely get frosts and never any snow, just a great deal of rain. Let’s go and tell Maia and Xanthe, and ask if they want to go. And I suppose I’d better introduce you to my wife, Reece, or she’ll take offence.’
‘Look out, here she comes,’ Ronan muttered.
Conn turned and said coolly, ‘Ah, Kathleen, there you are. We were just coming to find you to introduce a neighbouring landowner, Reece Gregory. He’s married to Xanthe and Maia’s oldest sister.’
She gave Reece a curt nod. ‘Are you another ex-convict? My husband says normal people don’t visit
him.’
He stared at her in surprise at this gratuitous rudeness.
‘Kathleen, there was no need for that,’ Conn said, with a certain weariness in his tone. ‘Mr Gregory isn’t a convict.’
‘But he’s a servant’s husband. Why did you introduce him to me? Have your standards slipped so far? Fine friends you’ve made here.’ She turned and walked off.
Conn closed his eyes for a moment and the other two men exchanged pitying glances.
‘Kathleen has always been – difficult,’ Conn said after a moment or two, ‘but she seems to have got worse since I last saw her.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Let’s go and join my mother. We’ll ask the girls if they’d like to spend the night with you and Cassandra. It’s better if they’re out of the house at the moment, at least until I can find somewhere else for Kathleen to live.’
Maia’s eyes filled with tears when she heard Kevin was dead. ‘I’m so sorry. He was a lovely man. I don’t think I should leave your mother, though, Conn. I know he’d understand that.’
‘I’m sure she’ll cope without you for a day or two. Kathleen’s maid can help her if necessary.’
But Maia shook her head. ‘Your mother never mentions it, but she’s having one of her more painful times at the moment and I know exactly how to help her.’ She looked at her sister. ‘You go, Xanthe. One of us ought to. Give Cassandra my dearest love. You can sort out the things we got from England while you’re there.’
Conn looked at Maia, his eyes softening involuntarily. ‘I’m continually grateful for your care of my mother. Now, if you’ll go and pack your things, Xanthe, I’ll tell Sean to harness the small cart.’
Xanthe clicked her tongue in exasperation as she went to her room. Even the tone of his voice showed how much he cared for her sister. The pair of them seemed unable to hide their feelings. Kathleen wasn’t too stupid to have noticed – and any wife would feel angry about that, whether she loved her husband or not.
