Deirdre didn’t want to try again. She wanted to sit on a blanket on the lawn or on a log at a picnic. She wanted a view, and to talk about music and films. She wanted to be given flowers. Her shoes were staring up at her, speckled in mud and dust. Not destroyed, but she’d be brushing cow out of them for a while. How Viv was going to laugh. She tried again, and this time Harry’s hand came down over hers and was completely welcome.
‘That’s it,’ he said. ‘Just like that.’ Her hand was warm now, and the teat under her fingers became soft but leathery as the warm milk shot out into the bucket. ‘You’ve got it, Deirdre!’ Harry declared. ‘I knew you were a practical woman!’ Deirdre glanced down at her dress.
‘So, you like the cows, then, Harry?’ she asked casually, her hands working at the udder, which swung gently in her grasp.
‘Oh, yes. I’m very interested in the dairy industry.’
‘Isn’t it a little sparse out here for milking cows?’ she asked. ‘I mean, she’s lovely but I think she’ll take a lot of feeding.’
‘You’ll see!’ he promised. They squeezed again and she felt the last couple of spurts flow from the teat. ‘You know,’ he said, his hand warm on hers, ‘I don’t think I’ll call you Elizabeth Taylor any more – I think you’ll be my cowgirl.’ Deirdre laughed merrily. At least part of that statement made her happy.
Finally, when the cow was milked, Harry opened the gate and she wandered off to find some grazing pasture. She flicked Deirdre a knowing glance on the way out.
‘Time for a cup of tea,’ Harry said and he put his arm around her and led her back to the neat house. Its lovely garden, she knew, had been planted by his parents thirty years before. ‘I’ll put the kettle on and we can have a couple of biscuits out the back. The view is pretty good from there, you can see across to the Christie place.’ Deirdre smiled her best smile.
‘Do you like farming?’ she asked.
‘Not really,’ he said. ‘But my family would like me to settle here and make a go of it. There’s money to be made if you have a few ideas.’
Deirdre glanced across to the fence line Harry shared with his brother. Frank owned both properties. Now that he was working on his new property in Beverley, Harry was doing him a favour by taking on the home farm. Harry had moved through a few successful business ventures over the past couple of years, and there was no doubt in her mind he would make a few dairy cows successful, even in the wheatbelt.
‘And if you’re willing to work hard,’ Deirdre supplied.
‘Oh, yes – if you’re willing to work hard,’ he agreed quickly.
The kettle had boiled. ‘Milk?’ she asked. ‘Sugar?’
‘Just milk please, Deirdre,’ he murmured. She knew how he had his tea and she would never forget. Just milk, no sugar. They had their tea the same way; it had to be a sign. They carried their tea and biscuits to the back of the house and took up seats on the back verandah.
She liked being on this side of the hill. From here she couldn’t see her own house, where her father was probably passed out in bed, where his room always stank of urine and booze, and the sheds and workshop were in hopeless disarray and disrepair.
Deirdre would have been embarrassed if Harry was to visit her there. She generally hoped that people forgot that she and Viv had a father any more. He rarely left the farm, and when he did it was to go to the pub to buy a supply of beer and whiskey so huge that he wouldn’t have to leave home again for quite some time. The farm had suffered. Viv and Deirdre did what they could, but it was often piecemeal and they relied heavily on Mr Christie to help them with machinery.
Their father would come stumbling out of the house in a rage if he discovered Mr Christie there. Get out of it, ya bastard!
Dear Mr Christie would make his apologies to the girls and leave them, sorry and embarrassed for them, and Deirdre would feel the familiar resentment building inside her as she watched his old battered ute pull away. How she longed to leave there as well, and to never return. Die, she’d breathe to herself. Just die and leave us be. And her father would go inside and crack open another bottle as if it was his wish too, as if it couldn’t happen fast enough.
Harry pulled his chair close to hers and she felt a quiet thrill as they sat together like a couple, Deirdre running her fingers over her hot china cup and Harry watching the geese waddle about in the afternoon breeze. She breathed him in. He smelled of soap. He reached out and touched her hair.
‘You know, you really do remind me of Elizabeth Taylor,’ he smiled.
‘Don’t talk nonsense!’ She was giggling.
‘You do – with blue eyes, and slightly longer hair, that’s all.’ Deirdre blushed. Even her ears were burning because he was leaning in so close. She smiled at him, enchanted.
‘Well, I still think you’re talking nonsense but I think you’re very sweet. So thank you.’
‘You make good tea,’ he observed.
‘It’s one of my many talents!’
‘What are the others?’ he asked. Oh. That seemed a bit forward.
‘Let me see, dancing, cooking, sewing – and talking, of course!’ She laughed.
‘Of course!’ he said. ‘Is Viv as chatty as you?’
‘Oh, yes, we’re a regular pair, we two! Always chatting and carrying on. We know all the same tunes, although she gets the words wrong half the time, and we both like a hit of tennis at the lake.’
‘And you both look after your father?’
She dimmed. ‘Yes.’
‘What happened with him?’
‘The drink took him, and we’ll never have him back again.’
He nodded. ‘I’ve seen it before,’ he said. ‘I heard your mother left.’
‘Yes, she left us,’ Deirdre said. ‘More tea?’
He reached over and took her hand. ‘Don’t be hurt by that, Deirdre,’ he said. ‘Not if you can help it in any way. She was obviously a bad mother to leave you like that.’ Deirdre blinked several times.
‘She may have been a bad mother,’ she said, ‘but she was my mother. And who knows? She may come back to us yet.’
Harry’s face was sympathetic. ‘She might,’ he said, but she knew he was lying. That she was lying, too.
‘Oh, well,’ she said, breaking his grasp and standing. ‘Time I was moving along. I’d better go home and get Dad’s tea, or there’ll be hell to pay.’ Harry leapt to his feet.
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘I mustn’t keep you, even though you do look like Elizabeth Taylor, and your chatter makes me happy.’ He placed his arm around her and walked her back through the house to the front door. ‘Do come again, Deirdre. I’ll miss you while you’re gone.’ She looked up at him in delight and he kissed her warmly on the mouth.
A moment, a longer moment, an eternity, silence. His welcome gentle mouth on hers, his hands buried for a long, sweet moment in her dark curls.
‘Well,’ she gasped, touching her tingling lips. ‘It feels like you’re going to miss me a lot.’
‘I will,’ he said, his eyes glowing with meaning. ‘You’re one in a million, Deirdre.’
When she trotted happily out of the house she felt as light as a feather, as if she was going to a dance. Her feet were already dancing. And her heart was already singing.
It was mid-morning when the radio in the corner of the kitchen crackled to life. ‘Channel five to Stretton – you got a copy, Teddy?’ It was Georgina. Teddy ran to the two-way and picked up the receiver in the corner of the kitchen.
‘Got a copy, George.’
‘Can you come over for a cuppa? Hamish is away, and I’m not feeling great.’
‘Of course! Put the kettle on, I’m on my way.’ She grabbed the remains of the scones from afternoon tea, shoved them into a biscuit tin then whistled up Dog and dashed outside to the ute. Will fell into the cabin beside her as she was turning the key in the ignition.
‘Excuse me?’ she said.
‘I’m on rural exchange,’ he said. ‘I’m going where you’re going.’<
br />
‘Okay.’
He climbed in, kicking aside an old oil tin and an empty Coke bottle. She gunned the motor and was speeding down the front drive when Will asked, ‘Where are we going?’
‘George called, she wants a visit. Hamish is in Narrogin, I think, and she’s not feeling great.’
‘Oh, God. She’s not giving birth or anything is she?’
‘Don’t be silly. She’s a couple of weeks away.’
Will grinned. ‘I should have brought towels.’
‘You won’t need them, she needs a scone and some sympathy, that’s all.’ The green paddocks flashed by and they drove on.
‘I heard from my old professor at the dig in Devon,’ Will said, breaking the silence. ‘He wants my help there as soon as possible.’
Teddy gripped the steering wheel. ‘But you’re not leaving yet, are you? You just got here, Deirdre will be furious.’
‘It is my actual job,’ he said, defensively. ‘It’s kind of a big deal.’ Teddy was unimpressed.
As the ute slowed to pass through Hamish and Georgina’s front gate, Dog barked at a noisy miner bird that was threatening to swoop the tray. When they pulled into the house yard, Georgina didn’t come out to greet them, which struck Teddy as strange. She handed the scone tin to Will and climbed out.
‘George! I’m here!’ Nothing. Clancy started barking and Dog joined in. She broke into a jog towards the house, patting Clancy absent-mindedly on the way past. ‘Where’s your mum, eh?’ Teddy gave the door a perfunctory knock and headed inside. ‘George! You okay?’
‘Here . . .’ Faintly from the lounge room, followed by a roar. She ran and found Georgina half on the floor, half propped up on the couch. Teddy rushed to her.
‘Georgina! Are you okay?’
‘Baby time,’ Georgina grunted.
‘Not now,’ Teddy corrected her. ‘In a couple of weeks —’
‘Does this look like a couple of weeks to you?’ Georgina hissed. She winced and panted. ‘Sorry – con – traction. Ouch.’
‘Uhh, Will?’ Will was hovering in the kitchen.
‘Yep?’
‘We’re going to need those towels.’ There was a yelp.
‘Really? And hot water?’
‘What the hell, put the kettle on.’ She turned her attention to Georgina who was looking pale. ‘Lie down,’ she said, and helped her to the carpet. ‘Will, find some soft bedding while you’re at it. Now, how long have you been like this?’
‘If I’m honest, probably a bit before I called. I was just hoping it was nothing and that I’d have a cup of tea and be fine. Then it hit me like a hammer. I couldn’t get to the phone after I’d radioed you, but I knew you’d come, Teddy.’ Teddy stroked her arm as she spoke.
‘Of course I did,’ she said. ‘I’d never miss a cup of tea. Now, I’m going to go and wash my hands, very, very thoroughly. Then I’m afraid I’m going to have to take a look.’
‘No way!’ George started to struggle. ‘Don’t you dare look at my vagina!’
‘Babe, believe me, I don’t want to look at your vagina. Can you think of anywhere else you may have left a baby though?’ Teddy ran to the bathroom and scrubbed her hands. Will dumped a pile of fresh towels in her arms.
‘I’ve called the ambulance,’ he told her.
‘Good. Watch the road – you’ll probably see Tim Heffernan go flying past in a sec.’
‘Why?’
‘He’s one of the local ambo volunteers, when he gets the call he’ll be going into town to get the ambulance.’
‘You okay? You seem very calm.’
‘I’m not sure I have any choice. Have you called Hamish?’
‘I left a message. I’m not sure if he’s in range.’
Teddy nodded quickly. ‘Well, it looks like this kid may be about to come out shortly, in which case, we’re on our own.’
‘Crap.’
‘Yep, and some of that is highly likely as well.’ She was on her way back. ‘Bring some cold drinking water.’
‘You want any whale music?’
‘You got any?’
‘I can hum.’
Georgina was panting again, the next contraction taking hold. Teddy grabbed her hand and held on, as Georgina grimaced and her stomach went rigid.
‘Try to breathe out through your mouth slowly, then take a long breath in through your nose.’
Georgina blew a lungful of air slowly out. Eventually the contraction passed. And then another. Another. The contractions were coming faster now, and holding her for longer. George’s body was gripped with pain, her face pale and sweating, and then relaxed into relief as each contraction passed. ‘You’re doing well,’ Teddy said. ‘Take a drink and we’ll wait for the next one. The ambulance and Hamish are on their way. We have fresh towels here for you to collect, um, what comes out.’ She lifted Georgina’s skirt.
‘Hey!’
‘George, I have to look. I might get an idea of how close you are.’
‘How will you know?’
‘I’ve been watching Call the Midwife very carefully.’
Georgina half-laughed. ‘Great,’ she said. ‘I feel as if at least half of them die.’
‘George – you won’t die, but I want to see if we can tell how far your cervix has dilated. I’m not sure if it’s a visual thing, or a hands on thing, but I feel as if we have to try. We also have nice fluffy towels here – and now I’m super keen to view your vagina, so let’s just do it.’
‘It won’t be weird?’
‘Don’t be silly! Of course it’ll be weird! That’s half the fun. It’ll be like a creepy bond between us, it’ll be awesome.’
Teddy moved George’s legs slightly to see if she could tell what was happening. She looked up at Georgina, who was panting again. ‘Uh, George, I don’t think this is going to come as a surprise to you but you have a person coming out of your vagina. Right now!’
‘What can you see?!’
‘Your baby’s head is crowning!’
‘Geez! What do I do?’
Teddy took her hand again. ‘Do you feel the need to push?’ she asked.
‘Yeah, bad.’
Teddy peeked back at the crowning head. ‘I think we’re supposed to keep it slow. So maybe pant through the contraction. Then I guess we say that as the next contraction gets really strong, give it all you’ve got.’
‘What if I tear?’
‘Not sure. I think I put my hand there for some support?’ Georgina squeezed Teddy’s hand for dear life, then let go, opened her mouth and roared.
Then Teddy got down and placed her hands where she thought they may help, although nature seemed to be taking its course.
‘Is Hamish here?’
‘Nearly. We got hold of him. He’s on his way,’ she lied.
Georgina was panting lightly again.
‘And the ambulance will be here in a minute as well.’
She looked back down to where a small but perfect head was caught momentarily between two worlds. ‘All right, Georgina. I’m going to cradle this beautiful kid’s head, and with the next contraction, you are going to gently deliver him or her into the world. You are going to change the world, just a little bit, with the next push.’
Georgina was covered in sweat, but managed a weak smile. ‘One push and I change the world.’
‘Yeah. You could have done this on your own, you tough cow. You could have given birth in the Blitz. The hard part is over. Now it’s all gravy.’
‘Oh, God,’ Georgina winced. ‘Don’t say gravy. Is there gravy?’
‘Put it this way,’ Teddy responded. ‘Were the white towels a wedding present?’
‘It’s coming!’ Georgina interjected.
Teddy reached out and carefully cradled the tiny head. The child’s shoulder popped out, and then the whole body slid gently into Teddy’s hands. Her face was wet with tears. Overcome, weeping, overjoyed, Teddy took the child and placed her on her mother’s chest, covering her with a soft, clean towel.
‘You did it, George. You did it!’ she whispered.
‘What is it?’ Georgina asked.
‘See for yourself.’
‘A girl! A beautiful girl!’ She was crying; they were both crying. And the little girl lay softly against her mother’s warm skin, moving her face back and forth a little, listening for the heartbeat that was as familiar as her own.
Teddy stroked her head. ‘She’s perfect, Georgina. You clever thing. She’s perfect, and you popped her out on your lounge room floor.’
‘All good?’ Will called from the hallway.
‘A girl!’
Will started to laugh. ‘Geez! A girl! Congratulations!’
‘Thanks! Don’t come in.’
‘No fucking way.’
Teddy sat back against the couch. ‘Just stay put for a while, I think the placenta will be out soon. Will! Can you bring me some Tupperware? I want to collect the placenta. I think the hospital may want to see it.’
‘On it.’ Will’s footsteps disappeared to the kitchen.
‘Isn’t everyone going to feel a bit silly when they find out you delivered yourself?’ Teddy asked.
‘They’ll be here in a bit,’ Georgina murmured, although she may have been talking to her baby, it was hard to tell. They sat quietly watching the child sleeping on Georgina’s chest until the ambulance arrived, and Tim and Steve came quickly into the room and offered their congratulations.
Teddy slipped away, making her way back down to the kitchen. She had been right. Something small had changed in the world in that small country lounge room. A child had been born and an explosion of love, of potential, had been released. It was a magical thing. It was nothing and everything. When Teddy made it to the kitchen she was in tears again. Will crossed the floor in a moment and enveloped her in his arms.
She let her arms move loosely around him and held him there, breathing in his comforting scent, listening to his heart.
The Cowgirl Page 10