‘Hey, girl,’ said Hogan. ‘How many of the boss’s fleeces have ye spoiled now?’
‘None, I hope,’ Letty said.
‘Is that ’cos the sailor boy’s floatin’ yer boat for ye?’ scoffed Hogan.
‘Leave her be,’ said Abner. ‘She does a tidy job herself.’
Letty was grateful to Abner for standing up for her.
‘Ha! Ye’d know that,’ said Hogan, ‘honest man as ye are. Not that I’ll hold it against yer.’
Abner flushed. Letty didn’t understand why. But she had the feeling she was causing problems for Abner. She almost wished she had eaten her lunch with Mary.
‘Well then, Letty,’ said Hogan. ‘How about ye go tell the boss we need the one-bladed shears for the next mob. Got some special sheep coming up.’
‘Yes, sir,’ said Letty, wanting to be helpful.
‘What?’ said Clem, when she told him a minute later.
‘The one-bladed shears. The shearers say they need them.’
‘There’s no such thing, Letty,’ said Clem. ‘They’re having you on.’
Letty felt silly. She wondered why Abner had let Hogan trick her.
‘It’s that convict,’ said Mary.
‘There’s no harm in it,’ said Clem. ‘Back to work.’
The next day Hogan told her at lunch break that the back of the shed was the men’s spot, not hers. ‘Women upset me digestion.’
Letty thought that she didn’t really want to sit with Hogan either.
Abner took his plate from Mary, thanked her, then hesitated. He turned towards Letty. Letty smiled, and asked Harry to move over so Abner had somewhere to sit.
But Hogan took Abner’s plate out of his hands. He jerked his head towards the other shearers. ‘Come on, lad.’
Abner shrugged at Letty, and followed the convict. Letty felt small and lonely. She could barely swallow her food.
The third and fourth days of shearing were worse. Whenever Clem was out of earshot, Hogan told her off for little things, like being too slow or dropping a dag. Abner went off to eat with the shearers. Letty was left alone. She told herself that all she had to do was work to the end of shearing, then she’d go back to Sydney with Abner. When he wasn’t so busy with the shearers he’d talk to her again. Everything would work out yet.
But in the afternoon Letty began to worry. Something was wrong with Abner. He worked silently, and his face seemed red. He trod the wool slowly, breathing heavily. Letty tried to speak to him, but he seemed not to hear.
After the tea break, Letty watched him carefully. He was getting slower, she was sure. She could see it was a big effort for him to climb in and out of the wool bale.
Letty left the wool table. The fleeces would have to wait. ‘Abner.’ She put her hand over his as he leaned on the frame. His skin was hot and sweaty. ‘Abner, what’s wrong?’
Abner didn’t answer. Instead he staggered out of the shed. There he slumped against the railing and threw up.
‘Abner!’ cried Letty. She touched his feverish forehead, then sprinted to the house.
‘Mary!’ she yelled. Letty’s thoughts raced even faster than her feet. She had seen this kind of sickness before. On the ship her sister had nearly died of it. How could she bear it if that happened to Abner? ‘Mary! Help!’
Mary came running through the paddock. She reached Letty panting. Her long red skirt was studded with burrs.
‘Abner’s got fever!’ said Letty breathlessly.
‘He has?’
‘He’s vomiting and he can’t stand up.’
Mary and Letty found Abner slumped on the ground. Clem was standing over him, a mug of tea in one hand and the other on his hip.
‘Letty said the boy’s sick,’ said Mary.
‘Hmmph.’ Clem held the mug out to his wife. ‘Smell that. That was his “tea”.’
Mary sniffed. ‘Rum,’ she said.
‘Leave him there until he sobers up,’ said Clem, tipping out the dregs in disgust. ‘Overnight, if that’s what it takes.’
‘He’ll be all right,’ Mary said softly to Letty. ‘Silly boy.’
‘Silly boy! Silly boy!’ repeated Harry, skipping around the pens.
‘Be quiet!’ said Letty. She was horrified. Abner wasn’t like that – he wasn’t a drunk. He never used to be the sort of person who drank alcohol at all, let alone while he was supposed to be working.What had happened?
Letty could not get that question out of her head. She kept looking across at Abner so often that she muddled up the fleeces and the dags. Eventually, Clem put down his shears and, with a frown, told his workers to pack up for the day.
THAT night, Letty watched the shadows of the hessian ceiling sagging overhead. She couldn’t sleep. The wind breathed in and out as if the house were a pair of lungs. She kept thinking of Abner, lying on the open ground. He would be cold. What if he really got sick?
Letty couldn’t abandon her friend out there. No matter how he’d treated her this week. She slipped her feet out from the blankets and felt for her boots. She took her shawl off the nail where she hung her clothes. For now, she wrapped it around herself. If she could not wake Abner, the least she could do was lay the shawl over him for warmth.
On the dark hills outside, a red light blinked in the distance. It looked like a campfire, but who would be out there? Letty told herself not to worry about it. She needed to watch her step instead. The ground under her feet was littered with stones, white as bone beneath the half-moon. Letty stumbled and nearly turned back. Then she saw Abner. He was still there, a stretched-out shadow under the fence-rail.
‘Abner?’ she whispered. She was afraid to speak too loudly in the eeriness of the night. Letty thought she could hear thumping noises coming from the shed. Perhaps it was rats. Or probably sheep, waiting to be shorn tomorrow.
Abner jerked in his sleep. Letty shook his shoulder. Abner groaned and sat up.
She was glad to see him awake. ‘Are you all right?’
‘I will be,’ he mumbled. He rubbed his head.
‘Can I help you to bed?’ Letty asked.
‘No.’ Abner turned his face from her. ‘Just go away, Letty.’
Letty didn’t want to go. ‘Have my shawl, to keep you warm.’ She held it out to him.
‘No, I said. Go. Please.’
His words went into her heart, chill as a shaft of moonlight. Abner didn’t want her. Letty felt worthless. She turned slowly to the house. She hoped that Abner would call her back. But as Letty stood on the dark verandah, he just pulled himself up and shuffled off to the shearers’ hut. Her heart was full of hurt and doubt.
When Abner had arrived, she’d been so happy to see him. He was her best friend, she thought. He had always been as solid and welcoming as a tree in summer. But now it seemed even he didn’t want her. Something had happened, and he didn’t want a young girl as his friend anymore. She couldn’t understand.
At the door of the hut, Abner stopped and looked over his shoulder. But not at Letty. He was looking towards the shearing booth, where Letty saw a man slip around the corner. Hogan again. Abner went into the hut without speaking to him. Letty went inside, too.
Hogan frightened Letty. She didn’t like the way he prowled around in the dark. Or the nasty things he said.
Letty pulled the blankets over her head to shut out the world.
‘Shearing’s almost done,’ Clem said, striding to the sheep pens. ‘I hope that boy turns up today.’
Letty said nothing. She didn’t look forward to seeing Abner this morning. She couldn’t think of anything to look forward to now.
Abner was there. He scuffed his feet on the boards and did not meet anyone’s eyes.
But Hogan was missing.
‘What’s holding him up?’ demanded Clem.
‘We dunno, boss.’ The shearers shrugged.
‘I’ll get him out of bed,’ said Clem.
‘He’s not in bed,’ they explained. ‘We haven’t seen him since dinner.’
&n
bsp; ‘I saw him in the middle of the night,’ Letty said.
‘Did you?’ Clem was interested.
‘I came to – to check on Abner.’ Letty was embarrassed to say it, because Clem had said to leave him alone. ‘Hogan was in the shearing shed. Abner must have seen him, too. Didn’t you?’ Letty turned to him.
Abner shook his head.
How could he deny it? Letty thought, bewildered and angry. Abner was lying, and he had made her look silly. She glared at Abner, but he looked at the ground.
Clem’s face hardened. ‘We’ve wasted enough time already,’ he said. ‘We’ll start without him. I don’t like men who are late.’ He spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Hogan won’t like it either, when I dock his sugar rations.’
Clem was fuming when Hogan had still not turned up by lunchtime.Without eating Mary’s stew, he strode down to the shearers’ hut. Harry trotted at his heels.They came straight back.
‘No sign of him,’ said Clem.
‘That kelpie’s gone,’ Harry said sadly.
‘I think he’s done a runner,’ Clem went on. ‘If he’s not back by the time we’re through with the sheep –’
‘I dare say he will be,’ said Mary doubtfully.
About sundown, the last sheep scampered bare-skinned from the shearing shed. The shearing was finally finished. But Hogan had not shown up.
Big square bales of wool were stacked roof-high in the sheds. Mary and Victoria came to look. Clem stood with his hands on his hips.
‘We should be cheering,’ he said. ‘It’s not a bad clip. But it’s been harder than it ought to be. Slack workers leave a bad taste in my mouth.’ He made the same face as when he’d tasted Letty’s pie. Letty winced.
Mary hugged Victoria to her. ‘Forget it.’
‘I can’t, Mary.’ Clem crossed his arms. ‘It’s the law. I’ll have to ride into Hartley.’
‘Well then, we’ll all come with you.’ Mary looked more cheerful.
Letty’s heart jumped. Was this her chance to leave? At last!
Harry moaned. ‘I don’t want more little sisters!’
Clem laughed and ruffled his hair. ‘That’s not why I’m going, little fella. I have to report Hogan missing at the court. Sorry, Mary. We can’t all leave. The animals and the wool clip are everything we’ve got.’
‘I don’t want to be here alone,’ Mary pleaded. Her voice sounded hollow and fearful, like when Letty first knew her.
‘You’ll have Letty,’ said Clem.
‘That’s not the same as you.’
‘Well …’ Clem pulled uncomfortably at his ear.
Letty wished she didn’t have to hear that either.
‘The shearers are going to another job,’ he continued. ‘But how about I ask Jones to stay on? I’ll warn him that if there’s any more funny business, he can forget his wages. He’s two-thirds of a grown man, at least.’
So two days later, Letty and Abner lined up outside the house with Mary, Harry and Victoria to wave goodbye to Clem.
‘Look after them,’ Clem said to Abner, as he mounted his horse.
‘Sir,’ Abner mumbled.
Harry pouted. ‘I don’t want to stay here.’
‘You’ve got a very important job. You fatten up those rabbits for when I get back!’
‘No! Don’t go!’ Harry shouted. But Clem clicked his tongue, turned his horse’s head and trotted off down the track. Letty wished she could be leaving, too. Harry screamed. Then he hit his little sister in the stomach. Her smile wobbled into a wail. Harry ducked under his mother’s arm and ran away to sulk amongst the wool bales.
Mary’s shoulders sagged. She handed Victoria to Letty. ‘I’m going to bed,’ she said. ‘Don’t bother me.’
Letty watched her close the bedroom curtain with a sinking heart. She was afraid of Mary slipping back into sadness. Letty felt she was no help. A kind of gloom had come over them all.
TΗΕ farm felt empty once Clem and the shearers were gone. Mary slept. Abner avoided Letty. Harry refused to do what he was told. Letty was lonely.
Letty played with Victoria on the verandah, letting the baby grab at her hair. Harry pulled bits off the lavender bush. Letty thought perhaps she should cook some lunch. But she didn’t trust herself.
Abner plodded up to the house with a bucket of water.
‘Letty …’ Abner looked uncertain. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly with his sleeve.
‘I’m feeling rough, and I can’t stand it anymore,’ he blurted out.
‘Are you sick?’ Letty asked. She almost hoped that he was, and Clem had been wrong about the rum.
‘No,’ said Abner, picking at the verandah post with his thumbnail. ‘But I’m a numskull.’
Harry laughed. Letty frowned at him. He stuck out his tongue and climbed up the railing.
Abner went on. ‘I jumped ship, you see. First Mate, he was always hard on me. So I ran away.’
‘Why is that bad?’ Letty asked. She had been planning to leave the Greys’ farm. She didn’t think that was very different.
‘Against the law for sailors to skip their job, it is. In the government’s eyes, I’m no better than Hogan.’ Abner kicked at the post. ‘Hogan figured it out, straight off. He said he knew I was a lawbreaker, that “It takes one to know one”. So I tried to fit in with him and his ways, hoping he wouldn’t blab on me. Even –’ Abner paused. ‘– even when he picked on you.’
Letty sighed deeply. That explained so much. But she wished Abner had told her before.
Abner faced Letty. ‘I’ve let you down rotten. I don’t blame you if you hate me. I hate myself for it.’
Letty didn’t know what to say. She could see the flush of shame spread across Abner’s freckled face. She was upset, but she didn’t hate him.
‘You!’ A shout interrupted them.
‘Hogan!’ said Harry from up on the railing.
Letty jumped. The convict stood at the yard rail, eyes narrowed.
‘Boss in there?’ Hogan nodded towards the house.
Abner shook his head. ‘He’s gone to town, looking for you.’
‘Ha!’ Hogan grinned. Then he gave a piercing whistle and waved his arms above his head.
‘Oooh!’ Harry bounced on the rail with excitement. Letty turned to see what he was looking at. She was astonished to see three horsemen appear out of the bush. They cantered across the paddocks, sheep scattering to either side.
‘Fetch the missus,’ Hogan ordered Letty.
She hesitated. She didn’t want to disturb Mary.
‘Or I will!’ said Hogan.
Mary’s eyes opened wide when Letty told her the convict was back. ‘Where’s Abner?’
‘On the verandah,’ Harry told her. ‘The kelpie’s back, too.’
‘And three other men,’ Letty added. She remembered Hogan creeping around in the dark, and the strange light in the hills a few nights back. It gave her a nasty, fearful feeling.
Mary pulled the blanket tight around herself. ‘I’ll talk to them.’ She got out of bed and went to the door.
‘I’m sorry, gentlemen,’ she said. ‘The shearing is over. Come back next year.’
Letty didn’t think they looked like gentlemen. Or shearers.They had long tangled beards and battered clothes with dirt in every crease.They didn’t carry shears, but guns.
‘We’re not here to trim your sheep,’ said the one in front. ‘We fleece squatters, not animals.’ The other men guffawed.
Harry stared at them curiously. He pointed to Hogan’s legs. ‘What happened to your birds’ feet?’
Letty saw he was right – the convict marks had gone from Hogan’s trousers.
‘I swapped me pants with a shearer on the road. After a bit of persuading.’ Hogan cracked the knuckles across his fist.
Harry giggled. Letty shuddered.
‘Now.’ Hogan gave Mary a sly look. ‘My friends here’ve had a rough time in the bush.We fancy some home cookin’ – a fat piece of rabbit pie. It has to be a proper one, mind
. Not made by that useless girl.’ He jerked his head at Letty.
Mary took a deep breath. ‘I can’t kill the rabbits,’ she said. ‘I don’t know how.’
‘We’ll take care of that,’ said one of the bushrangers, his teeth showing white in the middle of his beard. He took a knife from his saddle bag.
‘A pie takes a long while to cook,’ said Mary. She wrapped her arms around herself.
‘We’ve got time,’ said Hogan. ‘We know the boss won’t be back for days.’
Letty saw Abner bite his lip. She realised he shouldn’t have told Hogan where Clem was. Now the convict knew the women and children were alone on the farm.
‘By then,’ said the convict, ‘we’ll have disappeared back into the bush, like a puff of smoke.Ye can’t find us, but we know where to find you. So ye better treat us good.’
‘I see. All right then.’ Mary pulled Harry firmly inside. Letty followed. Abner came in with the water.
‘God help us,’ Mary said bleakly. ‘They’re bushrangers. Clem’s too far gone for us to catch him. And it’s fifteen miles to the neighbours.’
‘Shall I run the-re?’ Abner offered.
Mary shook her head. ‘They’ll see you on the road. You couldn’t outrun their horses.’
Or their guns, thought Letty.
Through the kitchen window, they watched the strangers tie their horses to the sheep pens and settle down to wait by the shearing shed.
‘Ach-a-fi!’ Abner’s face was pale. He shut his eyes and dropped his head. Letty saw his lips moving. She guessed he was praying. Letty thought that if God cared about them, He shouldn’t have let this happen.
‘What shall we do?’ said Letty.
‘Nothing, except cook,’ answered Mary. ‘We don’t want to provoke them.’
Mary kissed each of her children. She put on her apron, then took out the flour sack and the iron pot. Letty bounced Victoria on her knee. Her eyes wandered out the window and down the road.
‘There are people coming!’ she exclaimed.
Letty on the Land Page 4
