Discovering Treasure

by Crystal Mary Lindsey

  So what! She felt like giving a cheeky reply but knew her grandmother would have disapproved. So instead kept her reply meek. “I was informed Mrs. Ryan lost her last position and required a new one. After interviewing her, I felt we could help each other, and so offered her a job here.”

  A piece of hair fluttered loose and onto her forehead. Placing her hand up to contain it behind a hair comb Treasure looked away from those eyes to gain her composure. Why did she feel self-conscious? Was it the way his eyes drifted over her face to rest on her mouth and then back to her hair. She had actually allowed Ella to style it that morning into a deep wave with a crown of plaits wrapped around her head. It was very becoming and gave her lovely face and high cheekbones an elegant air.

  “Ahh,” was all he said as he continued to scrutinize at her.

  “Have I got a smudge on my face, Mr. Latham? I feel something is amiss for you to stare at me the way you do.” Well, if he was going to try and make her feel awkward she may as well ask him why?

  “So sorry Miss Gilroy and please call me by my first name –, Connor, in case I failed to mention it. He cleared his throat. “Now! back to the will. Your grandmother was a wealthy lady and it has all passed on to you. She owned stock in several companies through the New York Stock Exchange, which the dividends alone, will keep you supported in style for years. She was also a benevolent person and helped the town in various ways. It’s not up to me to tell you how to use your money, however, if I can help, I’d be pleased to do so.” He looked indisputable, and kept eye contact while speaking, which was a good sign.

  Treasure loved New York yet didn’t feel it should benefit from her money. It ought be back in good old Oz where it belonged.

  “Mr Latham—, Connor, I thank you most sincerely for your considerations. Firstly, about my employees. Mrs Ryan and Kelvin Thompson. I would be thankful if you would pay each a cash wage on Thursday of every fortnight. Yes! I have employed Kelvin for odd jobs five to six days a week. Presently he lives out of town. Since it would be nice to have a man around the house, I am going to get him to build a medium structure of bedroom and sitting room- kitchen around the back of the garage. This would be his accommodation.”

  Holding up her hand, for him not to but in, she continued. “Then, I would like to withdraw the money from the New York Stock Exchange and deposit it into my uncle’s bank in Sydney in a term account. My uncle had always had my best interest at heart, and families should stick together, even in business when it’s safe to do so.

  “Next, I wish to have the church and school painted as benefits the town. I will ask Kelvin to take charge of that, and perhaps hire someone to help him. After, he finishes building his rooms of course. “And,” she finished, “you may call me Treasure!” She felt this was enough for Connor to get his head around for now, and he could see she was one very strong-minded young lady, who knew what she wanted and was determined to see her wishes adhered to.

  “Well! I’m not sure what to say. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of calling you by your first name. I am honored.” Those eyes roamed over her mouth once more, almost like a kiss, and again set her heart thumping. “I shall take care of that stock for you and will prepare the papers to be signed. I take it that your uncle knows about placing the money in his bank?” He took his eyes off her for the time it took to write some notes and then collect the papers together. “You are a generous lady in all I have heard today. There is cash at hand aplenty to pay wages and to meet the cost for your ventures. I will handle them with the same reliance my late uncle did for your grandmother.”

  Treasure stood up pushing her chair back to the wall and preparing to walk around the desk. “My uncle doesn’t know about the money yet, because neither did I. I’m sure you will be a reliable confidant, Connor, and it’s nice to know your uncle held trust for my family. I’m sure that speaks well of you following in his footsteps.”

  Connor ran his hand through his hair and looked as if he was going to say something and then changed his mind. Before walking from the office he touched her arm for her stop and listen.

  “You’ll hear more about this from me one day. For now I’d like to clarify something for you about your natural mother. She didn’t give you away to her sister for adoption; it pained her to let you go. And –, in early December I have another letter from her to give you. Why she wanted it separate from the first, I don’t know? Perhaps you’ll learn that when it’s opened. But for now, I am happy to be of help.” He looked down at her, his eyes doing that thing again of searching her face. Then signaling for her to walk in front, he followed to the front door.

  Treasure stood pensively watching the back of his head as he walked to his office, crossing to the other side of the road to enter. Perhaps he felt her eyes on him? Because for some reason he paused, turned looking back, and lifted his arm in a wave before entering his front door. Treasure’s face flushed, and hoped with the distance, he couldn’t see. It embarrassed her to be caught out watching. What would he think?

  Ella, also spotted her as she came to the door, to see what she was doing. “Ahh, me thinks you like that gallant knight.” She swept her arm around Treasures waist; looking into her eyes and almost touching face-to-face. “Now I know why you wanted your hair to look nice,” she teased with a knowing smile.

  8

  Exciting town improvements.

  Kelvin, now their handyman, fell into a comfortable routine with the rest of the household. Closer in age to Mrs. Ryan who they all now called Nellie –, he made the entire house come alive with his joking and merriment. When told he was to build his own habitat at the back of the garage, Treasure could have sworn she saw tears spring to his eyes, but he turned away, mumbled something about getting to work and ordering his materials from the hardware, then rushed off. Treasure always thought Ozzie males should express their moods as free as did European men. As far as pride went with the latter, they had none. They expressed heartache or happiness, mopping away tears and blowing noses loudly. Aunty, or rather Mother, always said boys should not be taught to be a man and contain their feelings, as it was unhealthy!

  Kelvin, under Treasure’s instruction to do so hired two extra good-working men to each paint the church and schoolhouse.

  Ella informed her, the church could do with a new organ because their piano was in a dreadful state. Sweet Ella took it on herself to order game implements such as soccer balls, two cricket sets, and skip ropes for the school children. This was her contribution, she informed Treasure. Nellie, not to miss out on their actions asked if Treasure would mind, if she taught the older schoolgirls how to sew. Friday afternoon became the time for this with Treasure purchasing, enough materials, scissors, needles, and threads for the lessons.

  In the short time since the young women arrived in the town, many improvements eventuated, prompting others in the community to volunteer enhancements to the town at their own expense. It transpired like a fire, from one small spark, to the townsfolk suddenly catching the blaze. Nellie offered to cook up a heap of sausage for all the workers who came to help on two Saturdays. Down the middle of the town arose a medium strip of native bottle brushes planted in a row. The church was painted in double quick time, and the hardware gifted the paint. Parents of schoolchildren, built wooden benches on the shady side of the building for the children to sit protected from the hot summer sun. One clever grandfather donated two bubblers situated under the school where water would be cooler to drink.

  Not only did this bring the community closer together, it helped both Treasure and Ella make more friends. Some of the ladies enquired about Ella’s fashionable hair style, that many had only seen in an odd magazine. Ella managed to keep it trim and neat herself and at present had a slightly blue rinse washed through her golden tresses. Her huge slanted green eyes twinkled with excitement at the thought of giving these ladies some style of their own. She didn’t believe in pandering to what they thought would suit them, but instead would endeavor to help them m
ake the best of themselves. This however would only be done by suggestion; she did not consider making them over herself.

  And so the days fled into weeks with Uncle deciding to make a weekend visit to them at the beginning of November. Treasure guessed he would find the town remarkably changed since his last trip many years ago with his wife. Treasure’s New York stocks were safely deposited in his bank and Uncle Marcus was impressed with Connor having been a World War One fighter pilot. Connor informed her, that Uncle request the privilege of being a paid passenger in the lawyer’s private plane. Who would have guessed Uncle had an adventurous spirit, certainly not Treasure who hadn’t even seen the plane.

  Uncle sent a note back to her by Connor informing of his arrival on the Saturday and his leaving on the Monday. A room was prepared for him with Connor and Reverend Elderby being invited at Ella’s request, to a baked dinner on Saturday evening. Treasure didn’t like segregation and decided it was time for changes to be made. She consulted Ella about this who agreed wholeheartedly. So Nellie and Kelvin would be eating in the dining room with them and hopefully they could manage that as well as serving the food.

  Treasure informed the two employees over dinner that night. “We are all friends, and I see no reason for any different arrangement for us, except we’d use the dining room for a social evening.”

  Nellie and Kelvin looked first at each other and then at Treasure, and began to object.

  “Ah, no oppositions will be entered into!” Treasure stated firmly. “The world is changing and it’s about time. Snobbery is getting thrown out of the window in this house. Friends are friends and you have both proved yourselves in that respect. Now, let’s get down to the planning.” She had a page of paper to write it all down so there would be no mistakes.

  “I will leave the baked dinner and dessert up to you Nellie. And, Kelvin –, would you mind helping Nellie to clear away, and wash up after?” She hardly seemed to draw a breath in between delivering these orders. “If we can get that done in about an hour, then it would be nice to have some of Nellie’s singing.”

  At this Nellie’s mouth opened like a stunned fish, and her face flushed. Sensing her shyness, Kelvin patted her on the back, affectionately looking at her with esteem. “She has a bonnie voice, that’s for sure and Reverend Elderby, who hasn’t heard a solo from her yet, will be surprised! I suspect he will be asking her to lead the singing in church. Now that would be a delight for all!”

  Nellie got up under pretense of clearing away their dishes. She was lost for words. Yes! she did love to sing, but in front of people? That was another story, and to be informed she might do it in church with all those eyes watching, well it was enough to make her feel faint. She would need time to mull over what had been presented to her.

  Treasure didn’t wish to push her into doing something which would lead to upset. So, she walked out to the side verandah with Kelvin, on pretense of shaking the tablecloth. “You talk to her Kelvin. She has over a week to decide, but please don’t mention singing in church again. Let her get used to one thing at a time. We don’t need to make her a buddle of nerves, do we?” Nodding his head in agreement, Kelvin headed off for a game of cards with his cronies at a house down the road.

  *****

  The Saturday evening meal went well, and much to Treasure’s surprise, her uncle didn’t say a word about the ‘help’ socializing with them. This made Treasure wonder.

  When the pastor asked whether Uncle would be at the Sunday service, Uncle Marcus beamed.“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it. Connor’s been having talks with me about salvation on some of his Sydney visits. I have been curious about all of this since my wife’s illness and am now contemplating baptism.”

  Treasure almost choked on her coffee, had she heard correctly?

  This was so out of her uncle’s character. Turning in his seat, he looked at her and put her on the spot by saying, “You’ll come also I hope, Treasure. Knowing Jesus– sets you free from all the silly things that keep you tired in knots. Why I have never felt so unregimented and at peace as I do now, thanks to my new young friend, Connor.”

  Treasure felt trapped. How could her uncle have such a turnaround? Yes, she’d begun to have a different understanding about God, about him knowing her, about how he created her and the world, but she was not ready to drop everything familiar and become a devoted nun. If that’s what they expected, then they could all think again. What could she do? Her uncle was her guest so how could she snub him now in front of everyone and not go? Before she could think out a reply, her mouth opened without her permission and she found herself agreeing to go.

  Help!

  Connor had been observing her with hooded lids half hiding those magnetic eyes in the lamplight. His faint smile betrayed something almost supernatural. Had he put a spell on her? She was sure he had something to do with her agreeing because there was no way she wanted to. Eyeing her lips again he licked his as if contemplating a kiss. The power he emanated over her at that moment was earth-shattering. Something was bonding her closer to his heart and she had no combat against it.

  There was no way she would let him take over her life, her way of thinking or even more, her body. She’d fight him every inch of the way if she had too. When and if I choose a mate, Mr-All-Too-Sexy, it will be of my choice and not yours, so there. Now she hoped he could read her mind, which would not surprise her if he could, because then he’d know the ball was to be in her court and not in his! End of story!

  Next morning all was a flurry as everyone rushed the bathroom and scurried back into their rooms to be ready on time. The white crested cockatoos that screeched in flocks overhead spelled the time each day at nine, so Treasure knew there would be no tardiness.

  “Treasure,” Nellie said, I should have asked you last night but there never seemed the right time to do so.” Nellie had an apron over her Sunday best to keep it clean. Since Sunday was her day off Treasure wondered what she was doing, but was soon to discover. “This being a special weekend with your uncle’s visit as a V.I.P,” Nellie seemed to be confiding a secret in a low-toned voice. “We’re all to bring a picnic lunch that gets placed on a table and shared by everyone. I hope you don’t mind if I take the remainder of that roast lamb from last night. It was a big one so there is a heaped plate of leftovers. I also have boiled eggs and two bottles of pickled cucumbers. So is it all right to take them with us?” Her face looked worried, hoping she wasn’t being too presumptuous.

  Taking pity on this good lady’s big heart, Treasure smiled. “Of course I don’t mind, I am very grateful for your consideration.”

  Nellie release a sigh of relief and stepped out of the way as Ella rushed past and out the back door to make sure Paris was tied up out of the sun and had water within reach.

  “Treasure,” she called as she ran, “I’ll be back to do your hair in five minutes.”

  *****

  After all the preparations to get there, church turned into a friendly affair for Treasure. She didn’t know the hymns but after listening to the first verse sung she was ready to raise her own voice and attempt her best on the second and third verses. Uncle Marcus stood beside her holding the hymnal and helped her follow by running his finger along the words when she got lost. She felt closer to him than she ever had, and at the end of the third hymn he leaned close and whispered in her ear. “Your natural mother would have been very proud of you.” And then he winked.

  Not yet having had time to talk to him about whether or not he knew the family secret about her, she now knew her answer, and it was given in the sweetest way. Her heart glowed with love toward him and she silently thanked God for this man she had so underestimated.

  Surely everyone in the community was here. Treasure looked around recognizing so many faces, yet not all, as they filed outside following the service. Pastor shook her hand at the door and thanked her graciously for attending. “Was it so very strange for you?” he questioned.

  “No, it was very nice in fact, and I
do believe I could get used to the serenity emanating within the walls.” The glow on his face at her words displayed his thankfulness.

  Ella coming out behind her stopped to ask him if he’d eat at their table.

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Treasure witnessed his happy response.

  A huge kettle hung over an open fire at the side of the church and as Treasure wondered what it was for, when one of the women tipped a cup of tea leaves into it. Oh good, a hot cup of tea, just what I feel like. Nellie had seen her look and smiled, lifting the table cloth off the large basket brought from home, she reveal cups, a jar of sugar and another of milk.

  “Nellie, you think of everything,” she gushed, to which Nellie reached back into the basket to produce seven tin plates and cutlery. She was prepared for two extra at the table, which Treasure didn’t need to ask who they were, Pastor and Connor of course. Did that woman have some sort of uncanny knowing or what? Treasure just stared at Nellie while deliberating this in her mind. All of her life Treasure herself had had such occasions when she knew something impossible to know rationally. Like her attachment to Ella, and Ella’s to her.

  9

  Church is a surprise-and Uncle’s revelation

  What a lovely gathering. Treasure looked around at families sitting at the outdoor tables and others on blankets stretched out on the grass. Children ran around playing chasings and tip while laughing with merriment. The day turned out rather mild, although many from the area promoted a fiercely hot summer due to the so far, lack of rain. What would it mean? If no rain fell –, a drought! Would people and animals die? She knew nothing about this kind of existence, and then a plan began to form in her mind? Treasure contained her thoughts until everyone was finally sitting at the table enjoying their casual meal. Then she brought up the subject, directing it at Connor since his knowledge of the land was paramount.

  “I’ve been hearing the talk of it likely being a very hot summer. Will this cause a problem? What has happened in the past, do you know?”