‘He hasn’t been putting his heart and soul into this land for years, though, has he?’
‘Hardly,’ Joe smirked. ‘He’s thinking about what can be grown for the colony. They rely on what they get from places like this.’
‘And they know that many of us will pull ourselves together and start again. And not only that, the land will be all the richer next season for having been flooded. We usually have at least two good seasons between the floods. It’s enough for many of these farmers to give it another go. I’ll be surprised if too many give up.’
‘I hear James Ruse has decided to take his family and head in around Castle Hill. He wants something that’ll be more permanent.’
‘Right, so what are you thinking we’ll do, Will?’ Mary asked, anxious to hear what he’d decide. She looked down on what was once their farm and saw little more than a mud flat. Their hut still stood, but would take a lot of work to clean out. And if they were going to stay then they’d have to do the work quickly before the winter set in or they’d be sleeping under the trees in the freezing cold. Only a mad man would think it was all worth while, she was thinking while she waited for William to answer her.
‘I’m not sure the long term prospects for here are very good, love,’ he started slowly. ‘But if I can get some extra money by working for someone else for a bit while we patch some of this up, then perhaps later we could buy something safer, something we didn’t have to abandon and rebuild every few years.’
‘I see. So you’re saying that we’ll be staying,’ Mary said. ‘And not only are we going to put our farm back together, but you’ll work for someone else from daylight till dark until we’re rich enough to buy a real farm.’ It sounded so outrageous to her that she was almost laughing as she spoke. ‘I think after all that rescuing of people you’re a bit daft in the head. That’s what I think.’
William grinned as he watched Mary’s gestures. ‘I know you’re worried, love. But when it comes down to it you’ll be as determined as me. We can do this together for a while longer. At least until Thomas is old enough to decide if he wants to farm, eh?’
‘I should have given you a son years ago, Will,’ Mary said, rolling her eyes. ‘Then you’d have boys big enough to help you with the farm now. Like Robby and Joey. They’re already old enough to be farming with Joe and Ellen. They’ll be able to rebuild. But surely you can’t keep doing this.’
‘It’s no fault of yours we don’t have an older son, lass. We have to think of our situation, not others. Now you leave me to work out what I can. I’ll do what’s best for us.’
***
William had little trouble finding work with the free settlers who’d built on the ridge above Mulgrave Place. They knew the worth of a man like William. Many of the emancipists had lost heart for work at all and were more of a problem than a help to employ, but Tom Biggers was happy to make a deal with William, and to rent him a small hut to live in while he and Mary fixed up their own place.
‘You give me a few days work a week and this place is yours. It was a hut I had built for some of my employees who’ve given up and gone back to Sydney Cove. And when you’re ready you can rent some of the acreage around the hut. It’s higher than your land. I’m sure some of yours is still worth planting but best you don’t rely on it, eh?’
‘Thank you, Tom. I appreciate this,’ William said gratefully. ‘It’ll give me and Mary a new start.’
‘What about Dan?’ Elizabeth had stood quietly by her father listening to the conversation, and could contain herself no longer.
‘Don’t worry about that lad, missy,’ Tom answered, grinning down at the girl. ‘He’s a fine worker. I’ve already offered him a position. We’ve had quite a few scamper back to the city after this last flood.’ He watched as her face broke into a beaming smile, and then shook William’s hand firmly. It seemed everyone was satisfied with the arrangements.
***
When the river flooded again in August that year and then a third time in October, William and Mary were very relieved that they were not amongst those who’d gone back to the low lands and rushed into replanting. All the work that had started was washed away. New crops were destroyed again and the horror rescues of the March floods were repeated twice over as settlers again hung to trees or floating debris waiting for those with boats to lift them from swirling muddy waters.
‘How can they stand it, Will? Thank God we’ve been able to stay here.’
‘And I’m glad I haven’t tried planting again yet. What’s making it worse for the poor wretches is that they’ve spent everything they had on that seed that’s just been washed away.’
‘It’ll be the end for some, I imagine,’ Mary said sadly, knowing that so many of the farmers had only just hung on to start again.
‘For quite a few, I think, especially now that there are Officers from the Corp and their friends ready to take advantage. They’re offering to buy the farms for next to nothing. I heard some of the farmers have been told they can stay on and work for the Officers if they’re prepared to be paid in liquor.’
‘They wouldn’t?’
‘I think some are discouraged enough to accept it. They can’t keep the farms up themselves and they don’t know where else to go.’
‘It’s disgusting, Will. It shouldn’t be allowed.’
‘And who’s to stop it? If we don’t get a decent Governor soon, I wonder if there’s any future for the farmers at all.’
***
‘What do you think of the new Governor, Will?’ Joseph Hilton asked as he packed a box of goods for William in his Parramatta store.
‘Well, he seems to be trying to put a stop to some of these rogue practices of the military men. That’s a good sign.’
‘He is. A strong man, William Bligh, I think. More able to deal with the likes of John Macarthur, who’s only concern is to see himself and his kind prosper. Macarthur’s bought up most of Parramatta in these past few years. Thinks we’re all here to serve his needs.’
‘You’re not wrong, Joseph. There’s many a good man who’s served his time and is willing to do honest work for honest pay, despite what some think, but they’re being ruined by the attitude of the free men towards them.’
‘It’s a sad thing, William. Do you think any of you will survive out there at the Hawkesbury?’
‘Things have looked up quite a bit since Governor Bligh acquired some of the land on the edge of the ridge. He set up a model farm and put Andrew Thompson in as overseer. He’s a good man, that one. He’ll do us ex-convicts proud. It’s encouraged some of the others to stick at it. I’m renting fifteen acres now, higher up. A few acres of wheat and barley, a bit of corn. It’s enough to feed us and keep up a contract for selling some.’
‘That’s great, Will. And how’s the wife and those children of yours?’
‘Mary’s having another baby, actually. She’s as happy as a pig in mud. Oh, I shouldn’t use that term. She’s already chipped me for it. Says I’ll jinx us. Pigs in mud is how we’ve felt all too often in those floods.’ He chuckled as he paid Joseph for his stores. ‘She’s been determined to have another baby, so now she doesn’t want anything else to go wrong.’
‘I’ve noticed she’s a determined woman,’ he smiled. ‘I hope it goes well for you both.’
‘So do I, Joseph. God willing, next time I’ve need to come in here to Parramatta I’ll be bringing Mary and a new little one.’
***
‘What a wonderful blessing, eh, love?’ William stood looking down at his new son.
Mary looked up at him wearily. The birth of this baby had taken a lot out of her and she could barely stay awake.
‘Let me see, Pa.’ Elizabeth pushed her way in between her father and the baby’s cradle.
William grinned and stood aside. ‘What do you think, love?’
‘He’s very beautiful,’ she beamed, trailing her finger down his cheek.
‘Well, now that you’re twelve, you’ll be a real little helpe
r for Ma because she’s very tired.’ He was about to say that her Ma was not so young any more but thought better of it. ‘Little boys are lots of work and mothers need lots of help.’
‘I know that already, Pa. Thomas is a lot of work, isn’t he, Ma?’
Mary chuckled lightly. ‘He is a bit of a handful, sweet heart, but we love him all the same, don’t we? We wouldn’t be without him.’
‘But he’s only four, so he won’t be able to help with the baby, will he? That’s for you and me to do.’
‘Yes, it is. Baby’s are for mothers and sisters.’ She smiled up at William and wrinkled her nose. ‘So have you decided what to call this new son of yours?’
‘I thought you would decide that, seeing babies are for mothers and sisters,’ he said playfully.
‘Well, I want to call him William,’ she said quickly.
‘We can’t do that,’ Elizabeth objected. ‘That’s Pa’s name. We can’t have them both the same.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that. Having two of your father would be quite wonderful.’
‘Thank you, my dear,’ William grinned. ‘But I think it’s unnecessary to confuse people when there’s so many names to choose from.’
‘Then we could call him Billy.’
‘You are determined, aren’t you?’ He shook his head.
‘The world will be the better for another William Douglass, my love.’
‘But he’s not going to be William, is he?’ Elizabeth cried. ‘He’s going to be Billy.’
‘It seems he is, dear,’ her father said.
***
A few months later William and Mary made another trip to Parramatta and stopped into Joseph Hilton’s store to show off their new son.
‘He’s bonny.’ Joseph smiled at the small bundle, held close to Mary’s breast.
‘Caused a little trouble along the way,’ William nodded. ‘But worth it, eh, lass?’
‘He is,’ Mary beamed. ‘We got through with a little help from our friends, didn’t we, little one?’
‘And two mothers, if I’m not mistaken,’ Joseph added, watching Elizabeth patting the baby’s shawled head solicitously. He noted that the girl looked much happier than the last time he’d seen her. Her cheeks were rosy, her light brown hair shiny and pulled back with a ribbon.
‘Oh, yes, our Elizabeth’s one for babies, she is,’ Mary confirmed, glowing with pride.
‘And how’s this young man doing, eh?’ Joseph peered over the counter at Thomas at his father’s side. He had a mop of brown hair like his father and a ruddy, handsome face which broke into a broad grin when he realised he was being spoken about. He stood tall and looked up at his father adoringly.
‘He’s a fine lad, this one.’ William tousled the boy’s hair. ‘I’m a lucky man, Joseph. Two fine sons and a beautiful daughter. What more could a man want?’
‘He’s being kind again, Joseph,’ Mary said, looking up from Billy’s face. ‘He’d like twice as many young ones as I’ve managed.’
‘She’s jealous because her friend, Ellen’s just announced she’s to have her seventh early next year. But it makes no difference to me. I’m happy with these three.’ William glared at Mary, daring her to contradict him.
‘You would be happier if you had two sons out working for themselves and bringing in something for the family like the Wrights have,’ Mary insisted.
‘I’ll not argue with you, lass. There’s no point.’
Joseph smiled to himself, secretly relieved he didn’t have a woman to be arguing with. Even though the benefits of marriage were clear, he’d not been able to bring himself to take up the challenge. Besides, he mused, the types of women still coming into the colony were even more difficult to imagine living with than Mary Douglass. On last report only about four hundred of the nearly fifteen hundred convict women in the colony were married. The rest cohabited openly with men and not always the same one for long. The few women who arrived from the English counties were generally well behaved but were quickly taken up by the industrious settlers. No, marriage did not seem a likely prospect to Joseph Hilton, at least not until some better type of woman was brought to the colony.
‘Business must be better since Governor Bligh prohibited the exchange of spirits for grain, food, clothes and such, eh?’ William said, interrupting Joseph’s thoughts.
‘Yes, it was a good move, not that the likes of Macarthur were happy about it. That’s one of the reasons for all the trouble between him and the Governor. In and out of the Criminal Courts they’ve been, ever since Bligh arrived. Macarthur’s always accusing Bligh of breaking some code of practice or other. Sending letters back to England, complaining about him and saying that the Home Office needs to investigate. Now the Corps has declared martial law again, under the direction of John Macarthur, no doubt. Poor Governor Bligh is virtually deposed and under house arrest. It’s ludicrous. Macarthur doesn’t like being overridden. He thinks he should have all the say about how things work. But Bligh’s way is much fairer for the settlers. He believes a man should get paid in money for his work. None of this bartering in grog. I sure hope he gets the Home Office to see reason. His ways are better for the colony.’
‘Any fool ought to be able to see that, Joseph.’
‘Well the new acting Governor has already arrived, a Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Foveaux. He’s supposed to sort out the conflict. Goodness knows whose side he’ll take.’
Before William could comment a man came through the back door of the store carrying a large bag of flour on his shoulder. His hair was dark and thinning, his skin tanned and creased. He was short of stature but bulky, his shirt straining across his chest. The sweat and dust indicated he’d been unloading heavy bags for quite some time.
‘All done, Mister Hilton,’ he said, puffing as he dropped the bag at the back of the store. ‘How many of these do you want inside?’
‘Three or four will do it, Tommy, thanks.’
‘The good worker you told me about?’ William asked as the man disappeared out the door.
‘It is,’ Joseph confirmed. ‘I just hope he remains so.’
‘Oh?’
‘He’s infatuated with a young piece who’s working at the hotel. She comes in here as often as she can. Don’t know how she does the work she’s supposed to do. I’d wager she doesn’t lift a finger except to beckon men to her bed. You know the type.’
Joseph shuddered as he remembered the first time he saw Eliza Whitmore. No more than sixteen he estimated, and flirting shamelessly with Tommy Plumb, who was old enough to be her father. The poor man was very distracted by her and Joseph had decided he’d have to be warning him soon that his job was in jeopardy if he couldn’t concentrate on it. ‘She could be the ruin of a good man, I know that,’ he continued. ‘Tried it with me first but when I paid her no mind she started in on Tommy. He’s a man in his forties. Hasn’t had much time for women lately from what I can see. There’s a few hags around here that have been on the game for years by the look of them. But this one’s fresh and making no secret of the fact that she’s available.’
‘Perhaps she’ll find a good man and settle down,’ William suggested.
‘Hah!’ Joseph was having none of it. ‘You’d see for yourself if she was about, William. That type’s nothing but trouble.’
‘Are you two finished catching up on all the gossip now?’ Mary said, having found all she needed to buy.’
‘Politics, love,’ William chuckled. ‘We’re discussing the politics of the colony. But we’re done now. We’ll be on our way.’ He paid for their goods and shepherded his family back to their cart.
Chapter Fourteen
August, 1809
‘It’s coming down in sheets again, Mary. Thank God we’re safe up here. I’m going to see if I can help. I’m guessing Andrew Thompson’s already out there with his boat, and Dan and Tom Biggers as well.’
‘But Will…’
‘No buts. There’s people need help, lass. I can’t sit here in the
warmth of this hut.’
Mary rolled over drawing Billy to herself, knowing it would be useless to argue. ‘Then I’ll do what I’ve come to do often lately.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Pray.’
‘It’s the best thing for you to do, lass.’
‘Do you think Joe and Ellen’s land will be flooded again?’
‘I do, I’m afraid. But the boys will give Joe all the help he needs. You just rest easy.’
William was gone all night and when he came in late the following morning Mary thought she’d never seen him so weary.
‘You’re getting too old for this, Will. You’ll have to let the younger ones do it.’
‘I’m going to have a bit of a rest and go back. Andrew Thompson and Tom have been on the water all night and will be for another twenty-four hours I reckon.’ William began dragging his wet clothes off and passing them to Mary. ‘There are people hanging in trees and on roof tops for miles around. It came up really quick this time, about four feet an hour. Nobody had a chance to get out. Women and children have been lifted off floating pieces of roof and stacks of barley. You wouldn’t believe the number of pigs floating in that river, screeching and squealing. And I’m afraid we’ve lost a few lives this time. Some roofs didn’t hold till we got there. It was hard to hear their cries over the roar of the rain and the rushing water and then not be able to get there quick enough. We’ve been back and forward to the church building on Green Hills that many times.’ William dropped onto the bed, his eyes rolling with fatigue.
‘Is Dan all right?’ Elizabeth asked, her eyes wide with fear.
‘Yes, love, I think so. He’s been bringing people in all night too.’
‘Are the people at Green Hills getting fed?’ Mary wondered out loud.
‘Yes, from the Government Store,’ William mumbled, now half asleep. ‘Marsden ordered it. His property’s under water…all those sheep…’ His voice trailed away.
‘Poor dear,’ Mary sighed. She wiped William’s face of the drops still running from his hair and put a rug over his body. She couldn’t help but notice that his hair and beard were more grey than brown now, and his once hard and muscled body looked thinner and aged.
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