“A few things,” Clementine said, her bottom lip trembling when she thought of all she’d lost. Her customers had also lost their garments, which was very upsetting. Those who knew had been kind about it, but she still felt responsible.
Molly piped in. “I had my sister and her husband collect some of their belongings,” she said. “Unfortunately, most things were rather damaged.”
“Thank you, Mrs. McKenzie,” Jack said.
Clementine looked about to burst into tears, so Jack took her in his arms and gave her a much-needed comforting hug.
***
An hour later, they arrived at Bungaree. The first thing Jack noticed was that the men were no longer working on the channel. Puzzled, he proceeded to the house with Clementine and Ralph, where he found Sybil and Abbey waiting anxiously for news. They both were surprised to see the Feebles with Jack.
“Clementine and her father will be staying with us for a while, Mother,” Jack explained. “Clementine’s house is unlivable at the moment.”
“Oh, you poor dear,” Sybil said, taking Clementine in her arms. “What a shock, but thank the Lord that no harm came to you.” Sybil looked at Ralph and could see he was suffering. “Mr. Feeble, I wish we could have met again under better circumstances, but it’s lovely to see you. Please sit down. You look like you could use a strong drink.”
Ralph was in agony, so he gratefully sank down onto the sofa, his face as white as the doilies on the coffee table. Sybil quickly poured him a drink and then had one herself. It had been quite a day.
Jack called Marie and Elsa and asked them to prepare two rooms upstairs. He then called Sabu to prepare some refreshments.
“Where are Tom and William?” Jack asked Abbey while his mother fussed over Clementine and her father, making them comfortable. “Why did they stop work?” He’d noted Tom’s moodiness and wondered if that was the reason. This angered him, as Jack had only been trying to help them.
“They’ve gone to check on William’s wife because we were attacked by a small group of Aboriginal men just after you left. Your brother, Tom, was hurt by a spear.”
“What?” Jack gasped.
Sybil overheard their conversation. “Don’t worry, he’s not too badly hurt, but it was a miracle one of us wasn’t killed.”
“You were there?”
“Yes, as Abbey said, it happened only minutes after you left.”
Jack couldn’t believe it.
“Are you saying he was was … speared?” Clementine asked, looking at Jack. For a moment she wondered if they’d made the right decision in coming to Bungaree. At least they were safe from spears in town.
“It was only a shallow wound,” Sybil said. “As long as it doesn’t become infected, Tom will be fine.”
“We’ve got to do something,” Jack said, clenching his fists. “I want these troubles ended once and for all.”
They agreed it had been a horrible day for everyone and decided to get some rest.
CHAPTER 17
The next morning, Heath had Alfie drive him into Clare in his carriage. He was running short of money and the staff needed to be paid, but he was told he could not access his father’s money without papers signed by his solicitor to verify that he was his father’s beneficiary—which of course, he was not.
Needless to say, Heath was absolutely livid and intent on complaining to Edward Martin about the situation. How was he supposed to live for the next month when the money he made from auctioning livestock was going into his father’s account, and he wouldn’t be receiving wages or a commission until the estate was settled?
They were heading for the solicitor’s office on a different route than usual when Heath caught sight of two burned buildings. It took a moment or two for him to realise that the burned buildings were Feeble’s Tailor shop and the Clementine’s house alongside.
“Stop, Mr. Holbrook,” he called suddenly. Heath hopped out of the carriage and stood before the store and residence, noting the extensive damage. His mind was racing forward at full speed. His first thought was that if Clementine had perished, Jack would turn to Abbey. His second thought was even more alarming. If they should fall in love and marry, then Jack could very well end up owning Martindale Hall and the Burra Monster Mine. He groaned in despair, praying that Clementine had survived.
A group of women and some children approached, trying to get a closer look at the damage the fire had caused. Their company irritated Heath, who was in need of a few moments alone.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” one of the ladies said to another. “Poor Miss Feeble.”
Heath’s ear pricked. “Did she survive?” he asked, hardly able to breathe.
“Yes, I think so,” the lady said, mindful of what information she gave out in front of young children. “I believe she was alive when she was brought out. Whether she’s since …” She glanced at the innocent but inquisitive faces looking up at her. “I haven’t heard word about her current health. She’d breathed a lot of smoke. You’d have to ask.”
The woman kept talking, but Heath hurried back to his carriage. “Take me to the Railway Hotel, Mr. Holbrook,” he ordered sternly, leaving the women perplexed by his rudeness and abrupt departure.
Heath knew that the McKenzies were very good friends of Jack Hawker. They’d know where Clementine was—and if she were still alive.
Once in the bar, and despite the early hour, Heath ordered a much-needed whisky from Mike McKenzie, which he tossed back in one gulp. Fortified a little, he got straight to the point.
“I see there has been a fire at Clementine Feeble’s store and residence. Someone mentioned that she survived, but they didn’t know if her condition had deteriorated.”
“Clementine will recover well,” Mike assured him. He had lost count of how many times he’d been asked about the young woman. “But only because of her father’s bravery. If he hadn’t been there to drag her out, we’d be planning her funeral.”
“How fortunate he was there,” Heath replied, overwhelmingly relieved for a very selfish reason. His mind was racing. “If I had the notion to send Miss Feeble some flowers, where might I find her?”
“She and her father have gone to stay with Jack Hawker out at Bungaree,” Mike said, slightly mystified by Heath’s concern for Clementine. As far as he knew, they weren’t well acquainted. Surely, he wasn’t planning to take advantage of her present circumstances? Luckily, she had Jack Hawker to look out for her.
“Thank you,” Heath said, not terribly surprised. He noted that the man was studying him intently. “Is her father all right?” He didn’t really care, but he thought it would seem odd if he didn’t ask.
“He has some nasty burns,” Mike said.
“They’ll need attention, then,” Heath said, thinking ahead. “He’ll be coming into town to see the doctor, I imagine.”
“No,” Mike said. “Dr. Ashbourne will be visiting him at Bungaree this afternoon.”
“Ah. Good,” Heath said, formulating an idea. He threw some coins on the counter and left the bar abruptly, leaving Mike scratching his head.
“What was all that about, Davo?” Mike asked one of his elderly regulars who never failed to show up at opening time. It was a thought spoke aloud, rather than a question, but that was just as well. Davo’s attention was firmly fixed on the first of many beers he’d have for the day. A moment later he was slurping the foam head off his drink.
Heath hurried back to his carriage. He had Alfie make some discreet enquiries, and he found out that Dr. Ashbourne was in Mintaro, delivering a baby, but that he intended to keep his appointment at Bungaree later in the day. Clarence Ashbourne was getting on in years and was slightly deaf, but his mind was as sharp as a razor, and he was good at his job. His only downfall was that he talked too much and often repeated himself to the point of driving his patients crazy. But if anyone wanted some information to ge
t around town, they only had to tell the doc. He was as good as any bush telegraph—something Heath was counting on.
***
Much later that day, Dr. Ashbourne arrived at Bungaree, almost three hours late. Ralph had been worried that he wasn’t coming at all. The doctor was normally a cheerful soul, despite some of the tragedies he dealt with, so Jack immediately noticed the man’s sombre countenance. For once, Clarence worked in silence as he cleaned Ralph’s wounds and rebandaged them.
“There’s no sign of infection,” he told Ralph, who was relieved but exhausted after enduring too much pain to sleep the night before. “But the wounds will need to be re-dressed every day. I’ll leave some bandages that you can reuse once they’ve been boiled in the copper.”
“I can see to the dressings,” Sybil offered, much to Abbey’s and Jack’s surprise.
“Thank you, Mrs. Hawker,” Clarence said, and Ralph echoed the sentiment. “See that you change them regularly,” he said again.
“I will,” Sybil assured him.
Clarence spent a few minutes questioning Clementine and her father about any residual effects of inhaling smoke.
“Did you have an emergency this afternoon?” Jack asked the doctor after Sabu had served them all tea and cake. He was curious about why the doctor was not himself.
“Yes,” Clarence said with uncharacteristic solemnity. “I was in Mintaro when I was called to the Hall.”
“Martindale Hall?” Jack said, frowning. There was no other house like it, but he had to be sure.
“Yes. Martindale Hall,” the doctor repeated. “I can deal with injuries and illness, but when someone deliberately harms themselves, it makes me angry.”
Jack glanced at Abbey, who was sitting quietly beside Clementine at the kitchen table. He was curious about who the patient was, but didn’t like to ask. Abbey’s eyes had also gone wide, her visit with Heath still disturbing her.
“I know Heath Mason has just lost his father, but he’s a young man with his whole life in front of him and a lot of responsibility,” Clarence said.
“Mr. Mason?!” Jack was shocked. He couldn’t believe Heath would deliberately harm himself.
Abbey gasped, and Clarence glanced over at her. She was a pretty girl, and he knew Heath Mason was drawn to pretty girls, just like his father had been.
“You are not saying that Mr. Mason tried to truly harm himself, are you?” Abbey asked, holding her breath.
“I shouldn’t be discussing one of my patients, young lady. Are you a friend of his? I haven’t seen you around these parts before.”
“This is Abbey Scottsdale, Dr. Ashbourne. She is Mother’s new companion,” Jack explained.
“I happened to be at Martindale Hall yesterday when Mr. Mason’s father was buried,” Abbey said, unwilling to call herself a friend of Heath’s.
“What was that?” Straining to hear her soft voice, the doctor cupped his hand over his ear.
Abbey repeated herself, adding, “To be honest, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Mr. Mason since.” She glanced at Jack, who looked confused by her declaration. “He appeared to be in a very strange mood,” she explained.
“Did he seem depressed?” Clarence asked.
“His behaviour was rather odd, but then his father had just been buried,” Abbey said. “Please tell me what happened. If I can help him”
Clarence Ashbourne looked torn. “He could do with a friend, young lady,” he said sternly. “And I gather he hasn’t got many real friends, the type he could confide his darkest feelings to.” He’d tried for more than an hour to get a reason out of Heath, with no success. Somehow the doctor doubted that the man had the depth of character to treat a pretty young woman as a real friend. He’d probably only be thinking of how to seduce her, but even that distraction might do him good.
“He didn’t jump from the roof, did he?” Abbey asked, wide-eyed as she recalled the look on Heath’s face as he glanced over the roof’s railing to the ground below. It had never crossed her mind that he was thinking of suicide.
“The roof, did you say?”
Abbey nodded.
“Heavens, no,” Clarence said. “He wouldn’t have survived a fall from the roof. What gave you such an idea?”
“He took me up there, and he had such a strange look on his face.” Remembering the day before, Abbey shivered.
Clarence slowly nodded. “I see. Well then, are you going to call on him?”
Abbey looked at Jack. “I … yes, I will,” she said, hoping Jack understood.
“Then I will warn you that his wrists will be bandaged, but you are not to breathe a word to anyone about it.”
“I won’t, I promise,” Abbey said.
“Mind you don’t. The young man is in need of a genuine friend at the moment. He’s in a very morose mood.” The doctor was certain a beautiful friend would be even more beneficial.
Jack didn’t look pleased to hear that Abbey planned to see Heath again, and neither did Sybil. They glanced at each other.
“I will go with you, Abbey,” Sybil offered.
“Oh, thank you,” Abbey said, pleased for the company. “We’ll go first thing in the morning if you don’t mind, Mr. Hawker.”
“As long as Mother is with you, I won’t worry,” Jack said.
“I don’t think Mr. Mason would harm anyone else,” Clarence Ashbourne said.
“But we can’t be sure of that, can we? He seems quite unpredictable to me,” Jack said honestly.
His words chilled Abbey, who felt the same.
***
The next morning Sybil and Abbey went to see Heath Mason. Jack was actually glad that they would be away for part of the day because he and his brothers intended to deal with the problem they were having with the Aboriginal men. They were going to hunt for the men who had attacked them and drive them off if they could. He knew Sybil would worry herself sick if she thought her sons were in danger, so it was best if she were busy elsewhere. He had insisted the women carry a rifle in the buggy, however, just in case they encountered trouble on the journey.
Just after Abbey and Sybil left, Tom arrived to say that he and William had found poor Martha barricaded in their home two days ago, terrified for her life. She told them the attackers had been peering in the windows and shouting at the door. There were even spear marks in the door. Fortunately, when she threatened them with the gun at the window, they’d run off.
“I’ll ask Ernie Carpney to stay with her while we hunt the troublemakers down,” Jack said. “How is your arm today?”
“It’s much better. A bit sore and stiff, but it’s not hurting too much. Where is Mother?” Tom asked, expecting to see her.
“She’s gone out,” Jack said. He looked at his brother intently. “But it’s really Miss Scottsdale you were hoping to see, isn’t it?”
“I might have been,” Tom said. He had the grace to look guilty for being caught out. “It’s not very often you meet such a beautiful young woman so close to home,” he admitted.
Jack frowned. But he said nothing, as Clementine was upstairs.
“She’s not spoken for, is she?” Tom asked, noting the grim expression on his brother’s face. Before Jack could answer, he said. “How is Miss Feeble, by the way?”
At that moment, Clementine came downstairs, and Tom’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Did I hear my name mentioned?” she asked.
“Clementine!” Tom exclaimed. “Are you all right? I was just asking Jack how you were.”
“How sweet of you,” she smiled demurely. “I’m feeling better this morning.”
“Clementine and her father will be staying at Bungaree for a while,” Jack supplied.
Tom was pleased to hear this. Jack would be too occupied to interfere with his pursuit of Abbey. “I heard your home was destroyed by a fire,” he said,
his voice full of empathy.
“It’s badly damaged, and my father was hurt,” Clementine said. She’d slept fitfully and had bad dreams. She felt vulnerable and shaky.
“We have to go out for a while, Clementine,” Jack said. “Sabu will take care of your needs until we get back.”
“Where is your mother, Jack?” she asked. The house seemed very quiet.
“She and Abbey have gone to see Heath Mason. Remember, we discussed their plans yesterday when the doctor was here?”
“Oh, that’s right. Do you think it’s wise that Abbey associates with Mr. Mason? He has a terrible reputation with women, and she seems rather naïve.” She’d wanted to express her concerns to Sybil the previous evening, but the opportunity to talk in private hadn’t presented itself.
“How does she know someone like Heath Mason?” Tom asked incredulously. “He’s a fiend with women.”
Jack didn’t want to disclose the truth. “She’ll be fine. Mother is chaperoning her,” he said evasively. “Now let’s get on with what we have to do.” He headed for the backdoor, leaving Tom to follow.
***
Sybil and Abbey arrived at the Martindale estate at around ten o’clock. As they passed through the gates, Sybil was wide-eyed.
“What a grand entrance,” she declared, spotting the impressive carriage house and stables on their right.
Abbey felt nervous. She didn’t know what kind of reception she would get from Heath.
When Winston opened the front door a few minutes later, his expression was bland. Abbey had no idea what he was thinking.
“Is Mr. Mason receiving visitors?” Abbey asked in a small voice.
“Yes, Miss Scottsdale. Please, come in,” Winston said, stepping aside as the women entered the vestibule. He then led them to the drawing room. “Mr. Mason is upstairs in the blue sitting room, but he may have only one visitor at a time,” the butler said, as instructed. Heath hadn’t doubted that Abbey would come, but thought Father Quinlan might accompany her once more. Abbey looked at Sybil. “Will you wait here while I go up?” she asked.
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