The Homestead on the River

by Rosie MacKenzie

  ‘Sure. But, gees, Dad, it could be a heap of money he owes.’

  ‘Well, let’s hope it’s not too much. Now,’ he said, looking at his watch, ‘why don’t you open that thermos of tea your mother packed. And that brown paper bag with the sandwiches. I’ll pull over on the side of the road. We can have a bit of a break.’

  As he manoeuvred the float up onto the verge, James tried to hide his concern from Ronan. How many more people did Finn owe money to?

  * * *

  Kathleen knew James well enough to work out he was worrying about something. As far as she could see he had slept hardly at all over the weekend. At first she thought it may have been simply that he was nervous about bringing the horses home to Eureka. But in the back of her mind she had a feeling it was something more than that.

  Then on Sunday afternoon as they stood watching Jack, the Medlow’s tall, good-looking stablehand, trying to calm Caesar, who was cavorting around in his stable, tail swishing theatrically, James told her he needed to go up to Tamworth in the morning to see the solicitor.

  ‘He forgot to get me to sign a form that has to be lodged,’ he said. ‘Damn nuisance, but there you go. At least I’ll be able to drop Ronan off at school instead of him catching the bus.’

  ‘Couldn’t he post it to you?’

  ‘It needs to be lodged by the end of the week. I’ll leave early and be back mid-afternoon.’

  ‘Would you like me to come with you?’

  ‘No. You stay here. Keep an eye on things. Jack might need a hand.’

  ‘It’s no bother for me to come. I’m sure Jack and Lillie can cope here.’

  ‘No, you stay here. It’s just a form to sign.’

  Kathleen could hear an edge to his voice, but she decided to let the matter drop. She really didn’t feel like driving up to Tamworth if it was only going to be a short visit to the lawyer. She would be going up next week anyway to sort out Lillie’s uniforms. Although Lillie wouldn’t be starting school until the end of January, Kathleen had heard there was a uniform pool where second-hand tunics and blazers could be had. She also wanted to get some more clothes for the younger boys, who were growing at such a rate that they seemed to be bursting the seams of their clothes day by day. When Finn’s money came through she thought she would splurge on a Singer sewing machine. Then she could make the children’s clothes herself.

  James pulled out his pipe from his pocket and knocked it on the heel of his boot. Whether it was the late-afternoon sun shining on his face, somehow he looked drawn.

  ‘You seem tired,’ she said.

  ‘I think I’m a bit worn out with all the driving. That’s all.’

  ‘And now more time in the car. When you’re with the solicitor can you ask him what’s the hold-up on the money from Finn? I know these things take time, but even so it’d be great to have it on hand.’

  ‘Yes,’ James said, ‘it would, wouldn’t it? I know you’ve got it earmarked for quite a few things. So have I. Now,’ he added, looking at his watch, ‘before dinner I’ll go and give Jack a hand with that stallion. He seems to be playing up a bit.’

  ‘I’ve got a joint of lamb in the oven. Should be ready in half an hour or so. Come up when you can.’

  Kathleen strolled up towards the house and watched the sun disappear behind the distant hills, looking for all the world like the red glow of a lantern being extinguished by a slow puff of air. How lucky they were that Finn had left them his property. She had only been here for a few weeks, but somehow it had a feeling of home, particularly now that the horses were back. Once the money came through, they’d be able to make it even more so. As she reached the garden gate Lillie came out of the front door, laden with bedding.

  ‘Where are you off to?’

  ‘Dad asked me to take some things to Jack. He’s bunking down in that room in the stables. You know … the one next to that sort of lean-to kitchen.’

  ‘But he’s eating with us?’

  ‘Yeah, I think so. He seems nice, doesn’t he? Freddie follows him around like a shadow.’

  ‘I know, poor Jack. It’s great to see he’s so good with the horses. Particularly with Caesar.’

  ‘Yeah. He’s got a real knack.’

  Kathleen swore she could see Lillie blush. Maybe it’s not just Freddie who’s got a crush on Jack, she thought.

  Inside, she went through to the kitchen to check on the lamb. The fuel stove was a bit tricky compared to the Aga at Rathgarven, and of course there Maisie had done most of the cooking. After she closed the oven door Kathleen stepped over to the sideboard and folded up the aerogram that had come from Alice this afternoon. Although she had been sad to hear of Finn’s death when James had rung to tell her, Alice was also delighted the family had fallen on their feet and inherited Eureka Park. I’ve little doubt you’ll make a roaring success of it, she wrote.

  Despite it being one of the coldest snaps in history, I’m warm and cosy in my rooms. I must say I’m having great fun watching my new television. Bonanza’s my favourite, but I hate to admit it, I’m also quite partial to that dreadful English soapie, Coronation Street.

  Kathleen smiled as she put the letter on the edge of the dresser for James to read when he came in. There was also an aerogram from Jessica. Kathleen had skimmed it earlier and put it aside to read properly later. She had been surprised to see that Jessica was still living in London.

  I know I should go back to India. But I can’t bear the thought of that ghastly heat any more. I must be getting old, my sweet. Mind you, I only have to look in the mirror to work that tragedy out. Such a cruel world, isn’t it? Rumours have come back to me that in my absence Phillip’s seeing some tart half his age. Someone he met at the Tollygunge Club. I gather she’s also married. That’s India for you. Quite frankly, my darling, I couldn’t give a hoot, so long as he sends me some money to live on and doesn’t spend it all on her. For God alone knows there’s little enough money as it is. You of all people know how I used to be able to rely on my looks to snaffle any man I wanted. One prepared to lavish me with money and gifts. That allure’s sliding away somewhat. I do think I’ll have to rely on the beautiful Clara to make a good marriage to keep me in the manner to which I’m accustomed. We’re off to Dublin in a few weeks. Maybe she can attract a wealthy Irish lord while we’re there.

  Kathleen shook her head. She folded the letter away and went to the drawer of the pine dresser to take out the knives and forks and lay the table. It sounded as though Jessica was going to try and push poor Clara into a marriage of convenience. Not so much a convenience for Clara as a convenience for Jessica.

  Oh, Clara, Kathleen thought, as she placed the cutlery around the table, don’t let your mother rule your life.

  * * *

  ‘You’ve got to be joking,’ James said as he sat in Colin Towers’s office the next morning. ‘It can’t be so.’

  ‘I’m afraid that’s how it looks. As the executor of the will I received another outstanding bill yesterday. From the Australia Hotel, actually. Isn’t that where Malone was to put you up?’

  James took a deep breath. ‘Yes, that’s right. It appeared no booking had been made, so we ended up in a hostel.’

  ‘Maybe the hotel didn’t take Malone’s booking in the first place as he owed them too much money.’

  ‘Oh!’ James sighed and reached for his pipe. ‘It’s hard to comprehend how Finn could run up debts like that. It seems so unlike him.’

  ‘I’m not sure he was so much in debt as just slow paying his accounts. And, of course, that can all add up.’

  Yet he’d obviously paid Jessica off, James thought angrily. Was Jessica now going to be responsible for the O’Sullivans losing Eureka Park as well?

  ‘How much of the twenty thousand pounds do you think will be needed to clear the debts?’

  ‘It’s hard to say …’

  ‘Are you telling me that it might be more than twenty thousand pounds? That we may need to sell Eureka Park in order to cover Finn’s debt
s?’

  ‘I wouldn’t go that far.’ Colin Towers pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose. ‘I’ve been made aware that a neighbour across Snake Gully Road, which adjoins your property along the western border, is interested in buying that ten-acre paddock abutting his place. Maybe you could consider selling that. Should cover a bit.’

  ‘Oh!’ James said. ‘How much do you think that’s worth?’

  ‘Depends. If you were to put it on the open market, not a great deal. To him it’s possibly worth a bit.’ He paused. ‘Maybe a thousand pounds.’

  ‘By the sounds of things that wouldn’t go far.’

  ‘I should have a clearer picture in a week or so.’

  ‘In the meantime you hold onto the money? Is that how it works?’

  ‘As executor, yes.’ He raised a brow. ‘Have you any money at all to keep you going?’

  ‘We have a small amount we managed to bring from Ireland. But that’s being eaten into at a great rate.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ the lawyer said. ‘Rest assured I’ll try and get it all sorted out as soon as possible. In the meantime, maybe you could go and see a bank. They may be able to tide you over. I gather the Bank of New South Wales is lending a bit at present.’

  ‘And what collateral could I give them? I mean … if we might lose Eureka Park to Finn’s debts?’

  ‘I’m sure you won’t lose all of it. Depending on how much you need to borrow, maybe the bank can take a first mortgage over part of the land.’

  Here we go again, James thought. Just when I thought we had a clean start. Even if the bank were to lend them some money, how would they make the repayments? He stood and began to pace.

  ‘What would you do if you were in my shoes?’

  ‘I’d go to the bank,’ the lawyer replied. ‘See if they can help out. If they can, maybe you could sell the land to your neighbour to cover the repayments.’

  James sighed. There seemed little option other than to get a loan. ‘Do you know anyone at the bank who I should talk to?’ he asked.

  ‘The manager’s not a bad bloke. If you like I can make an appointment with him for next week. In the meantime, as I said, I’ll do all I can to get this mess sorted out as soon as possible. At least if you have a loan that can tide you over.’

  James nodded. ‘Thank you. I’d appreciate it if you could make an appointment.’

  With that, he picked up his tobacco pouch and put it and his pipe in his pocket and made his farewells. Outside in the Holden he slumped down in the seat and sighed heavily. What I need is a strong whisky, he thought. He checked his watch. It was only 11.30. Too early for a drink. Instead, he put the key in the ignition and started the engine. For a moment he thought of not telling Kathleen anything until he’d been to see the Bank of New South Wales. Then reason prevailed. She had a right to know. If Ronan had already heard rumours Finn owed money around the place, those rumours might easily reach her ears too. And if James admitted he’d known and hadn’t told her, she’d have every right to be furious.

  * * *

  When James drove up to the homestead Kathleen was out in the garden tackling a flowerbed. She watched him park the Holden under the wattle tree next to the bare patch of dirt he was preparing for a vegetable patch where the new chickens and a couple of turkeys they’d bought from a friend of the Hogans were pecking happily. Once it started to get dark Freddie would chase them into their coop, a chore he relished, along with collecting the eggs.

  ‘Hi there,’ she said, lifting her head and giving James a bright smile. ‘Glad you’re back. You can help me pull out that dead oleander bush over there. It’s got a trunk like an elephant and I can’t budge it.’

  ‘Of course,’ James said. ‘Then how about a cup of tea? There’s something I need to tell you. Over a cup of tea would be best.’

  Kathleen stood up and wiped her hands on a rag she had stuck in her belt. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked, taking her hat off and pushing a sodden piece of hair back from her forehead. ‘I thought you were just going into Tamworth to sign some papers.’ She moved a bobby pin to hold back her hair and looked to where he’d parked. She wondered if he’d had an accident on the way home.

  ‘Good heavens, James! Don’t tell me you crashed the Holden on the way back?’

  ‘No,’ James said. ‘Nothing like that. Let’s pull that bush out then I’ll go put the kettle on.’

  ‘The bush can wait,’ Kathleen said, eyeing him worriedly. ‘I’ll get the tea. You sit down on the verandah. You look beat.’

  And he certainly did. Kathleen wondered if he wasn’t doing too much in this heat. It was getting hotter and hotter each day. Inside the homestead was not too bad if there was a breeze coming through the open windows and doors, but outside it was so hot it made doing anything seem much harder, including driving to Tam-worth and back as James had just done. It wasn’t as hot as Calcutta; nonetheless, Kathleen thought come the height of summer it could get up there.

  A short time later she came outside with the tea tray. After she poured them each a cup she looked long and hard at James. ‘So …?’

  James gave a nervous cough. ‘I don’t really know how to tell you this. However, it appears Finn owed quite a bit of money when he died.’

  Kathleen’s eyes widened. ‘My God! Do you think that’s why he killed himself?’

  ‘It could well be so.’

  ‘Oh. How awful. Poor Finn.’ Then the ramifications sank in. ‘And we’ve inherited those debts? Is that it?’

  James nodded. ‘I’m afraid so. Colin Towers is not quite sure how much he owed. Bills are still coming in.’

  ‘Surely he couldn’t have owed that much. You know what I mean. He was not long back from Ireland, for Godsakes. He flew. That would have cost money. And he stayed at the Shelbourne.’

  ‘I know. Maybe that’s why he was slow in paying his debts here.’ James picked up his teacup and took a small sip. ‘Evidently he might have owed money to the Australia Hotel. Maybe he owes money to the Shelbourne as well. And Qantas.’

  ‘They’d hardly give him credit?’

  ‘It appears people did. He was a persuasive sort of fellow. People trusted him. Without doubt he hoped to pay those debts off. Then … Well, we know what happened.’

  ‘When his creditors saw the death notice they decided to act.’

  ‘Something like that. They possibly would’ve held off till he got around to paying. Now that he’s dead they wanted to get in line.’

  Kathleen gazed out over the garden, saying nothing. A few minutes ago she had been feeling quite happy. She enjoyed gardening and seeing the results of her work was rewarding. Between the house and getting the garden back into some sort of order, she was feeling more and more confident that the family would be happy here. Now this. Finally she asked, ‘So what do we do now? Will we need to sell up here?’

  ‘I hope not. Colin Towers suggested we go and see the Bank of New South Wales. They’re supposedly lending money. And we could sell off that paddock on the other side of Snake Gully Road to cover the repayments. Evidently our neighbour’s after it.’

  ‘And when that’s all gone?’

  ‘Maybe we could get something smaller. Cheaper.’

  ‘No, James,’ she said adamantly. ‘We’re not moving. Not unless they come with a bulldozer and doze us out. I could get a job,’ she said, picking up her cup of tea and taking a long sip.

  ‘You?’

  ‘Yes, me. I’m not completely useless, James. I used to work in India, remember. And I did those translations for the Indian Embassy in Dublin.’ She forced a smile. ‘Without patting myself on the back, I can also take a decent photograph and I know how to work a Gestetner. It so happens I was reading the Quirindi Advocate when I was waiting for the boys’ bus a few days ago and saw they’re looking for an office dogsbody. Mornings only. It may not pay much. But at least it’d be a foot in the door if I got the job. It could cover some of our living costs … and hopefully a few other things.’
r />   ‘Kathleen …’

  ‘Beggars can’t be choosers. One thing I know is that I don’t want the children uprooted from here when we’ve just settled in. It doesn’t have to be forever. It might get us through a sticky patch. That and selling the land on Snake Gully Road.’

  ‘Why don’t we wait and see how it all pans out?’

  ‘And let our own debts mount up? No, James. You concentrate on getting the place going here. I’ll go to Quirindi tomorrow and apply for that job. All that can happen is that they say no. And if they do, I’ll look for something else. Maybe the Hogans have something at the hotel. As you know I can carry out a decent clean. And wait on tables.’

  James went to her and put his arms around her. ‘The Quirindi Advocate, perhaps. Cleaning … no.’

  ‘Well, let’s see what eventuates.’ She put her hand on his. ‘In the meantime, come and help me pull that oleander bush out.’

  As James helped her heave the bush from the hard ground, Kathleen was more determined than ever that she wouldn’t allow anyone to take this home from her. Even if she had to take two jobs.

  CHAPTER

  21

  The next morning Kathleen put on her second-best dress and, leaving Lillie in charge of getting James’s and Jack’s lunches, she dropped Marcus and Freddie to the bus stop and drove across to Quirindi to see about the job at the Advocate. She had thought of ringing up first, but then decided it would be best if she went in person, as they were sure to ask her to come in anyway and she thought she would enjoy the drive through the countryside. She had soon realised that driving distances in Australia’s vastness was the norm. She parked the car in George Street and found the place easily. When she told a young girl sitting behind a counter what she was there for, she told her to take a seat.

  ‘I’ll tell Mr Lyons, the editor, you’re here.’

  Kathleen looked around. She had never been into a newspaper office before. The floor was covered in green lino and the chairs were shabby and scratched. Next to her sat a steel ashtray on a black pedestal overflowing with butts. A few copies of the Advocate were strewn on a coffee table next to the wall. Some had been there so long they were going yellow around the edges. She touched the skirt of her linen dress and wished she’d worn something more appropriate. Maybe a pair of trousers, or at least a skirt and blouse.