“I’m sorry it’s taken so long. I’ve just explained to Joseph that my partner, Peterson, got sidetracked to Sydney. He’s found a woman and good luck to him. I spent some time there and then took sick, ended up weak as a baby.” He turned to Joseph. “You must have all but given up on me.”
“You’re here now.” Joseph’s grin hadn’t left his face. He looked from Millie to William. “Hegarty’s brought my share of the gold money. It’s far more than I imagined.” He pulled Millie to her feet and hugged her. “You can buy whatever you like.”
Millie looked up at him. “I have everything I need, Joseph.”
“There’s something else.” Hegarty reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar pouch.
“My lucky rock.” Joseph extended his hand and Hegarty dropped the pouch into it.
“A very lucky rock as it turns out. It’s a diamond.”
That night they made camp at the first creek as they often did. Joseph was tired but he knew his thoughts wouldn’t let him sleep easily. William had already retired to his swag under the wagon. Joseph watched Millie put some wood on the fire. She had made a bed for them in some softer soil on the other side of the fire. She turned, silhouetted against the light from the flames, and he could see the huge bulge that was their baby. He took two steps, wrapped his arms and around her and drew her close, her back against his stomach, his hands cradling their child. He felt Millie draw in a deep breath.
“It’s a beautiful night.”
Joseph looked up. There were no clouds and the vastness of the starry night spread out above him like a velvet blanket covered in tiny tinkling candles. In his arms was the woman he loved and there would be a new child soon.
“This is where we were camped when I told you I loved you.” He bent down and kissed her cheek. “I am the luckiest man alive.”
“I am glad you think so, Joseph.”
He smiled as he felt the baby move beneath his hands.
Millie placed her hands over his and leaned her head against his neck. “This is a busy baby. Thank goodness I will have Esther and Violet to help me look after it.”
“In that case I hope it’s two babies or those two will tear it apart fighting over who’s to hold it next.”
Millie’s soft laugh mingled with the crackle of the fire. A spray of sparks shot into the air in a small fire show and were gone.
“Mr Hegarty has been a good friend.”
“I’m glad you like him, especially since he’s going to work with us for a while.”
“It sounds like he’s lonely without his friend Mr Peterson.”
“They’ve worked together a long time.”
Millie reached her hand over her shoulder and patted his pocket. “And he brought your lucky rock back.”
“All this time I’ve been carrying a diamond around in my pocket.” Joseph chuckled. “Well, a rock with diamond in it anyway.”
“It’s the one you found when you met my brother isn’t it?”
“Yes. I found it on the edge of that permanent waterhole high in the hills beyond Smith’s Ridge.”
“My family’s country.”
Joseph recalled the day he found the rock, the day he thought was his last. The rugged country at the back of Smith’s Ridge held much beauty and many secrets. He was glad he had control over what happened there. Yardu may not like him but better to have his son-in-law managing the land he camped on rather than a man like Ellis Prosser.
Millie twisted her bulky frame in his arms and looked up at him with her big dark eyes. “Will you tell anyone else about the diamond?”
“No, my love. Like you say we have everything we need.”
William knew about the diamond and Hegarty and Millie and he would tell his father of course but he would tell no-one else. Life on the goldfields had been enough to show him the craziness of men when they thought they could be rich. He didn’t want that madness to spoil their land and their lives. The gold he had found would set them up for a brighter future. He would leave the diamonds alone and perhaps Yardu and his people could continue in peace in the rugged hills. He hoped so. It was the best he could do for his native family.
Millie stretched up and kissed him. Her eyes shone. With her stomach pressed to his he could feel the push and kick of their baby. He pulled her close and looked up at the vast spread of stars twinkling overhead. One flashed, a green streak. It shot across the sky and was lost on the horizon.
Joseph smiled. He had all the luck he needed right here in his arms.
Author’s Note
Most of the people and places in this story are fictitious, however I have included real places, for example the town of Hawker, and some of the well-documented people who lived there such as the local doctor and head teacher.
This is a work of fiction so the historians amongst you may find I’ve been a little flexible with dates and elaborated on real events. It’s all in the name of creating a work of fiction and having the plot make sense.
Whilst I have researched widely on the life and times I have discovered there are often conflicting reports on some major events and activities. I have, I hope, used this to my advantage to bring the period to life with a little manipulation on my part and yet with authenticity. Thus any mistakes are my own.
Acknowledgements
The acknowledgements are sometimes the hardest words to write. So many people support me in my writing journey and I appreciate that kindness no matter how small.
I will begin with a huge thank you to the dedicated and savvy team at Harlequin Australia. Michelle Laforest, Cristina Lee and Sue Brockhoff thank you for championing my books. To Jo Mackay and Annabel Blay, the dynamic duo, what would I do without you? Your support and feedback is invaluable and an extra big thank you to Annabel for your editorial work. The entire team at Harlequin are very kind and gracious, from the proofer Laurie Ormond – didn’t I make her work – to the sales team and all in between. I am indebted to the effort that is put in to come up with the covers. Romina Panetta and the design crew do a wonderful job. Adam Van Rooijen, thank you and your team for great marketing ideas. So many hands at Harlequin have brought this book forth. You are all fabulous. Thank you.
To fellow writers across this land and over the seas who have understood my highs and lows and encouraged over the air waves, my grateful thanks. It’s so good to know such a wonderful cross section of talented people who are so willing to share.
I am very lucky to have a local bookshop. Thank you to all at Meg’s Bookshop and in particular Margie Arnold for such wonderful encouragement and support with getting my books out to readers. I also want to thank the many other bookshops around the country who’ve kindly hosted my signings and promoted my books. If you are fortunate enough to have a local bookshop please support them.
Then there are the libraries, what fantastic people work in them bringing authors and their books to readers. It’s also amazing how each one is so unique and adaptive to the needs of their communities. Libraries are also a great place to research and in particular my thanks to Janet Johnstone at Moonta Community Library and Rosie Luckcraft at Hawker Community Library for helping me find some of those tricky titles I needed.
Little writing would get done without the support of friends and family. Thanks and love to you all but specially to my grown up children and their partners for help which comes in all kinds of ways from beta reading to a smiley face from afar when I need one. I am so very blessed.
To my husband, Daryl, who keeps everything running, I am forever grateful that you are my number one. My love always.
Finally to all of you wonderful readers who enjoy my books. Thanks for coming along to events to say hello or dropping me a line. I am very appreciative of your warmth and for every cheery smile and message. It makes the often lonely writer’s desk a brighter place. My grateful thanks to you all … and yes, I’m still writing.
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First Published 2016
First Australian Paperback Edition 2016
ISBN 978 176037168 5
DUST ON THE HORIZON
© 2016 by Tricia Stringer
Australian Copyright 2016
New Zealand Copyright 2016
Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Dust on the Horizon Page 46