Shadows in the Valley

by Elizabeth Haran

  “I’ve just been out to Bungaree,” Heath declared by way of greeting.

  “So, what has you in such a mood?” Edward could see how angry he was. “Did Miss Scottsdale refuse to see you?”

  “I didn’t speak to her. She was helping Jack Hawker’s sister-in-law deliver a baby.”

  Edward’s eyes widened. “Really?! Perhaps Miss Scottsdale has a future calling in midwifery.”

  “Very funny. Here I am, in total despair, and you’re being facetious.”

  “Sorry,” Edward said contritely. It was not the time for such remarks. If Heath failed in his bid to inherit his father’s estate through marriage to Miss Scottsdale or by other means, then Miss Scottsdale would be rich beyond her wildest dreams. She’d certainly never need to work to support herself. “It’s been a long day. Tell me what’s got you in a lather.”

  “Not what. Who. That would be none other than Jack Hawker. He’s certainly not helping my cause. I’d lose my temper with him, but he’d only speak ill of me to Miss Scottsdale, and that wouldn’t do.”

  “What’s he done now?” Edward asked, tidying other paperwork on his desk. He was eager to get home, so he hoped Heath’s visit was brief.

  “He wanted to discuss a few things today.”

  “Discuss things? Does he suspect you have motives for wanting to see Miss Scottsdale?”

  “Yes, but they’re nothing to do with my father’s estate. He’s not happy about my association with her because of my reputation with women. It’s quite obvious he thinks I’m lusting after her, and he’s all but warned me to keep my distance. He actually went as far as threatening me if I touched or hurt her. The nerve of the man.”

  “You do have quite a reputation with the fairer sex. You can’t deny that,” Edward said seriously.

  “Maybe so, but it’s none of his business, and I have no intention of heeding his warning. In actual fact, I believe Mr. Hawker is the one lusting after her.”

  Edward wondered if Heath was jealous. “Time is not on your side. I’ve had some more correspondence from the mine.” He retrieved some paperwork from the corner of his desk. “Things need sorting out there. Decisions need to be made; money needs to be spent to improve the miners’ safety. Apparently, morale is at an all-time low. There’s even talk that the miners are threatening to strike.”

  “I can’t deal with all of that unless I have this business with my father’s estate settled.” Edward hadn’t been able to have any money at the bank released to Heath, so he was running out of money quickly.

  Edward expected Heath’s plans to be fruitless, but he knew he needed to tread carefully. “Why not be candid with Miss Scottsdale and explain the situation?” he said. “I can draw up some papers that will make everything legally yours if she signs.”

  Heath’s eyes widened. “Are you mad? She’d never sign the estate over to me.”

  “She might, because she didn’t willingly marry your father. I believe it’s worth a try, and it would be so much easier than all this deception.”

  Heath pursed his lips. “I can’t take the chance that she’d refuse, and I’m sure she would. Who in their right mind would refuse so much money if it were legally theirs?”

  “Sometimes people surprise you,” Edward said philosophically. He could name a few instances he had witnessed over the years as a solicitor, but it wouldn’t be ethical.

  “And sometimes they don’t,” Heath countered. “Besides, even if she wanted to do the right thing, Jack Hawker would probably advise her against it.”

  “The longer this is drawn out, the longer everyone suffers,” Edward said. “The staff at Martindale needs to be paid. The funds we are legally able to access to pay the miners will run out this week. We can’t drag our feet on this much longer.”

  “I just need a little more time. There is a dance in Manoora this weekend. I’m going to ask Miss Scottsdale to spend the weekend at the Martindale Estate and attend the dance with me,” he said.

  “I can’t see her consenting to spending the weekend with you at Martindale,” Edward said in frustration.

  “There’s a possibility she won’t, because of Mr. Hawker, but I’m sure I can get her to attend the dance with me. If I succeed in that, I have a plan to get her to the estate. One way or another, I’m going to spend some quality time alone with her. If I can do that, I’ll get her to fall in love with me.”

  Edward simply sighed.

  ***

  Jack and Abbey stood looking down at Max on the blanket in the barn.

  “He’s listless,” Jack said. “I think an infection is spreading through his body.”

  “Mrs. Hubert gave me something to put on his wound for infection. I think it was made from eucalyptus oil.”

  “I doubt it will help,” Jack said, dispirited. “The wound was particularly nasty.”

  “She seemed to have faith in it.”

  “I hate to say it, but I don’t think Max is going to get better.” Jack became emotional and turned away.

  “You aren’t thinking of?” Abbey couldn’t say it, but Jack knew what she meant.

  “It might come to that,” he said softly.

  “No, I won’t believe it,” Abbey said, outraged at the idea. “Why not ask Ernie to help?” It seemed logical to her, and she didn’t understand why Jack hadn’t thought of it.

  “Ernie?” Jack, said as if the notion hadn’t occurred to him. “There’s nothing he can do.”

  “How do you know that? He helped Mr. Feeble, so maybe he can make something to help Max.”

  “Just because he can make a remedy for burns, that doesn’t mean he can cure everything.”

  Abbey didn’t hear his reply because she had already left the barn in search of Ernie. She was first going to try the quarters he shared with Wilbur at the back of the stablesnot that they used them often. They preferred to sleep under the stars on all but the coldest nights.

  Jack followed her out of the barn. “Abbey, wait. If you are going to look for Ernie, he’s not here.”

  Abbey turned around. “Where is he?”

  “He went back to the sheep.”

  “We must find him before it’s too late for Max.”

  “It’ll be dark in an hour, Abbey,” Jack said, avoiding eye contact. The days were long because it was summer, but it was getting late.

  Abbey marched towards him. “Don’t you want to help Max?” His attitude baffled her.

  “Of course, I do,” he snapped.

  “Then why are you giving up so easily?”

  “I’m not giving up. I’m being realistic.”

  “It looks to me like you are giving up,” Abbey said angrily.

  “You don’t understand, Abbey. You’ve only been here a very short while. I’ve lived here for years. I know my Aboriginal workers, and I know their capabilities.”

  “Did you know that Ernie made a remedy for Ben Dobson’s burns and that it healed them within days?”

  “Yes, of course I did.”

  “Then why aren’t you seeking his help now, when Max’s life is at stake?”

  Jack could see that Abbey had to learn some things the hard way. “Just because he knows how to heal burns, that doesn’t mean he can fix everything. Leave it at that.”

  “I believed you cared enough for Max that you’d do anything to help him,” Abbey said, fighting tears.

  “That’s not fair, Abbey,” Jack stated in a grave tone before he turned away from her.

  Abbey knew she’d hurt him, but she was defiant. “Is Ernie coming back here tonight?” she asked his retreating figure.

  Jack stopped and turned. “No, he and Wilbur will camp out with the sheep, and you are not going out there in the dark, alone, so don’t get any ideas.”

  Abbey understood that Jack felt defeated, but she wasn’t so ready to concede defeat. “Then c
ome with me. Let’s go and see him right now,” she said. “If he can’t help, at least we tried.”

  Jack knew that arguing with Abbey was getting him nowhere, and he was worried she would go looking for Ernie on her own. “Very well, then,” he sighed. “Let’s go find him.”

  ***

  “What makes you so sure that Ernie can’t help?” Abbey asked Jack as they cantered over the countryside side by side.

  Jack didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t reply.

  “Is his knowledge limited to burns?” Abbey persisted. She hadn’t considered this possibility.

  “It’s not that, Abbey. The Aboriginal community has customs and beliefs that are quite complicated. Don’t be surprised if Ernie won’t help Max.”

  Abbey thought about the questions that Ernie had asked her when she wanted him to make the salve for Ralph Feeble. She’d been quite puzzled by them at the time. “What would stop him helping?” she asked Jack.

  Jack slowed his horse to a walk, and Abbey did the same.

  “Aboriginals believe that death and serious illness are caused by spirits or people practicing sorcery.”

  Abbey was shocked. “Sorcery?! Are you serious?”

  “Yes, very serious. Even a minor accident, like falling over a log on the ground and injuring oneself, is suspected of being caused by someone casting a spell.”

  Abbey wondered if Ernie had suspected that the fire at Clementine’s house was set deliberately, as the result of a spell. But something like that certainly wouldn’t apply to a dog. “Surely Ernie won’t think someone has put a spell on Max,” she said. “That would be ridiculous.”

  Jack shrugged.

  Abbey pulled on the reins of her horse, bringing it to a standstill, and Jack did the same. They faced each other. “I just can’t believe you are as indifferent about Max’s life as you appear to be,” Abbey blurted out.

  Jack grew angry at her words. “Farm life is not like a story in a book, where there is always a happy ending, Abbey. We don’t know if Clementine’s father will get well again, and it was a miracle that Martha and her baby survived.”

  “I didn’t offer to help Martha with the assumption that things would work out perfectly. I had no idea what would happen, and I was terrified, but I did my best, and in the end, Martha and the baby were fine. We have to give Max that same chance. He deserves that much.”

  Jack looked at her in silence for a moment. “I almost envy you, Abbey,” he said wearily.

  Abbey was taken by surprise. “Why?”

  “Despite all you’ve been through, you still possess a firm belief that everything will turn out for the best.” He found that extraordinary. “I’ll go along with this, Abbey, but I won’t get my hopes up only to have to …” He couldn’t say the words, but in his mind he could see himself shooting Max. “In the end, it will be me who has to put an end to Max’s suffering, and I will have to gather the courage. Believe me, it will be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. To have you think I’ve given up, just because I won’t get my hopes up, is very hurtful.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t believe that, honestly,” Abbey said, feeling terrible. “I know you love Max. Let’s just explore this one last possibility. Please.”

  Jack had a good idea of what was going to happen, but he nodded, and they rode on.

  ***

  It was almost dark when Jack and Abbey came upon Ernie and Wilbur sitting beside a campfire. The sheep were nearby, so they approached cautiously so as not to disturb them. Abbey did catch a glimpse of Josephine amongst the flock, with the bright red ribbon around her neck. Abbey was happy to see that the lamb was sticking close to her mother.

  The stockmen were surprised to see them.

  “Is something wrong, boss?” Wilbur asked.

  Jack glanced at Abbey as they dismounted. She could see he was uncomfortable with approaching them for help, but she didn’t understand why.

  When Jack didn’t immediately reply, Abbey spoke up. “Ernie, Max is quite ill,” she said to the stockman. “Is there anything you can do to help him?”

  Ernie glanced at Jack and then Wilbur. He then looked into the flames of the fire. “No, missus. I can’t help him.”

  Abbey was momentarily speechless and stared at the stockman in disbelief. “His wound has become infected, Ernie. Is there an Aboriginal remedy for infection?”

  Ernie glanced at Wilbur again, and then both men looked into the flames of the fire in silence.

  Abbey didn’t understand what was wrong.

  “Let’s go, Abbey,” Jack said to her.

  “No,” Abbey snapped. “We have to help Max.” She looked at Ernie. “Why won’t you help Max, Ernie? Tell me.”

  “I can’t help, missus. The dog was speared by Aboriginal men.”

  “I know that, but I still don’t understand, Ernie.”

  “I can’t change what they did. If I did, I could be killed.”

  Abbey was shocked, but Ernie looked gravely serious. “Tell us what to do, and we’ll do it,” she said.

  Ernie shook his head. “Can’t do that, missus. I can’t undo what’s been done. The dog will die.”

  Hearing those words, Abbey burst into tears. The three men glanced at each other in dismay before Jack went forward and put his arms around her. There was nothing he could say.

  “We can’t let Max die, Jack,” she sobbed into his chest. “He didn’t do anything wrong. He doesn’t deserve this.”

  Over her head, Jack looked at Ernie. It was growing quite dark, but in the glow from the fire he could see the stockman felt terrible. Jack didn’t blame him, however. He wasn’t angry. He knew that Aboriginal people had firmly held beliefs. He’d known virile, healthy young men die simply because they believed they’d had a spell put on them. Jack had come to realise that the mind was a powerful thing.

  Suddenly, Ernie stepped towards Abbey. “Maybe someone else can help, missus,” he said nervously. “I can’t say for sure, but maybe.”

  Abbey dried her tears. “Who, Ernie?” she asked, a glimmer of hope sparking in her eyes.

  “A Kurdaitcha man,” Ernie replied in barely more than a whisper.

  Abbey looked at Jack in confusion.

  “He’s a spiritual tribal man,” Jack explained. He was surprised that Ernie was sharing this information, as he and Wilbur were from the Arabana clan of central Australia. He didn’t know how much influence he had with the local Kooris clan, let alone their Kurdaitcha man.

  “The Kurdaitcha man is the only one who could help Max, but I don’t know whether he’d do it,” Ernie said.

  Abbey looked at Jack again.

  “Ernie is talking about a man of great wisdom and stature in the tribe. He may not consent to help a dog.”

  Still, Abbey clutched at the hope he offered her. “Can you find out, Ernie?”

  Ernie glanced at Wilbur, and they discussed the situation in their native tongue. It was a rapid exchange in clipped syllables. There was also quite a bit of pointing in different directions. Abbey assumed they were having a discussion about where this great spiritual man might be.

  “You might have to offer something in return,” Ernie said to Jack.

  “A sheep,” Jack suggested. “One of the wethers.” They were valuable, but not as valuable as Max.

  Even though the clans had different languages, they could quite often understand each other well. “The local clans have told me they can get meat. Always plenty of roos around. But because of the drought, berries, yams, and fruit are scarce. So maybe I can offer some fruit and vegetables in return for the Kurdaitcha man’s help.”

  “Please do, Ernie.” Jack wasn’t convinced the stockman would have any pull with a local Kurdaitcha man, but he was pleased that Ernie was willing to try.

  “Go back to the homestead and wait,” Ernie said. “If the Kurdaitcha man w
ill come, I’ll bring him to the barn.”

  ***

  Abbey and Jack sat with Max for the next hour, waiting.

  “I wonder what is taking so long,” Abbey complained. Her patience was growing thinner.

  “Don’t get your hopes up that Ernie will convince the Kurdaitcha man to come, Abbey. Aboriginals think very little of dogs. It’s not that they don’t like them, but they are not nearly as important to them as they are to us. You quite often see them with dogs, but they use them to keep warm in the winter, while the dogs have to scavenge for the scraps of meat and bones that the tribe throws away after a meal.”

  “This situation is far more involved than I understood,” Abbey admitted. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.” She was starting to see that there was only a slim hope for Max and that Jack was suffering because of her stubbornness. “Why does life have to be so painful?” she whispered.

  “There are good times, and there are hard times, Abbey. One thing is sure: You can’t have it all one way.”

  “I know that,” Abbey said. She was thinking of her father and Neal.

  Jack squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you go to bed, Abbey? I’ll wait here. If anything happens, I’ll come and get you.”

  “No,” Abbey said. “This was my idea. I’ll see it through with you.”

  Just then Elias appeared at the barn door. “Is everything all right?” he asked Jack. “Is the dog worse?”

  “Yes,” Jack said sadly.

  “Do you want me to?”

  Jack interrupted. “No, Elias. You go to bed. Ernie may bring some tribal Aboriginal men here, so don’t be alarmed and shoot them if you see them. Please tell Ben about it.”

  Elias looked startled and frowned. “Why is Ernie bringing them here?” he asked.

  “Never mind. I’ll explain in the morning,” Jack said. “Could you ask Frank Fox to prepare a large basket of fruit and vegetables and leave it by the barn door?”

  “What for?”