Shadows in the Valley

by Elizabeth Haran

  Alfie had been mucking out a stall when he had noticed her standing by the gate to Horatio’s stall. Along with many of the staff, he’d been expecting to be called to the main house to be told that his services were no longer required and that the estate would be sold. That would have been bad enough, as he’d been employed at the Hall for a number of years, but he’d been more concerned for the future of the horses, especially Horatio. He had assumed Abbey had come to give him the news he’d been dreading.

  “Do you like riding, Miss?” Alfie had asked when he approached.

  “I do, but I’m not capable of handling an animal like Horatio. I believe I’ve proven that.” Abbey looked sheepish as she admired the stallion’s glossy coat. When she thought about flying over two fences on his back, she didn’t know how she’d survived.

  “Horatio is very spirited and exceptionally strong,” Alfie said. He felt no anger towards her for stealing the horse. He’d heard the story about what Ebenezer Mason had done to her. All the staff had been talking about it. “Apart from me, the old master was the only one who could handle Horatio,” he said.

  “How old is he?” Abbey asked.

  “Eight years, Miss. He’s been on this estate since he was a colt.”

  Abbey caught the sadness in Alfie’s voice and instinctively knew it was nothing to do with Ebenezer Mason. She suspected he was worried about the horse’s future and probably his own. “Did the young Mr. Mason have any plans for Horatio?”

  Alfie’s gaze dropped to the ground for a moment, and Abbey watched a mixture of painful emotions cross his features. Heath had tried to ride Horatio only once and had been thrown. He’d been showing off in front of a young woman he wished to impress. Heath had never liked the horse after that. “He was going to sell him at auction, Miss,” Alfie said. He stroked the horse’s mane, and Horatio lifted his head and nudged his arm affectionately.

  Abbey could see that the idea of selling Horatio was intolerable to Alfie. “Would you like to own him, Mr. Holbrook?” she asked.

  Alfie looked at her in surprise. “Yes, I would, Miss, but I could never afford to buy an animal of this quality. He’s very valuable, particularly for breeding. He comes from champion racing stock.”

  “I barely know the difference between a draught horse and a donkey, Mr. Holbrook,” Abbey admitted, but she appreciated his honesty. He could have avoided mentioning Horatio’s worth if he’d wanted to be cunning. “But as I now own Horatio, I can give him to you, can’t I?”

  Alfie looked at her in astonishment. “Yes, I suppose you could, Miss, but …”

  “Then he’s yours, Mr. Holbrook. You’ve done an amazing job of looking after him, and I can see he has a very special bond with you.”

  Alfie became emotional. “I can’t let you give me the horse,” he said. As much as he wanted the horse, and he did, it didn’t feel right.

  Abbey thought she saw tears in his eyes when he looked at the black stallion. “You can’t stop me, Mr. Holbrook,” she said. “The horse is yours, and I’ll hear no argument saying otherwise.”

  “Thank you, Miss Scottsdale,” Alfie said huskily. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  “I think I do, Mr. Holbrook,” Abbey said, stroking Horatio’s velvety nose.

  “What of the other horses, Miss?”

  “Do you want them all?” Abbey asked, teasing him.

  Alfie flushed. “No, Miss. I just worry about them,” he said awkwardly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “There’s no need to apologise. I suspect you’ve been concerned about what the future holds for yourself and the horses. I’m not yet certain about many things, but as long as the estate can afford the horses, they’ll have a home here, and your position is safe.”

  “That’s wonderful news, Miss,” Alfie said. He paused for a moment. “I know you’ve had a real rough time of it, but you are going to be fine, Miss. I’m sure of it,” he added. Alfie thought if the universe rewarded those who were kind, then Abbey shouldn’t have a care in the world.

  ***

  Jack was sitting in the lounge when he heard hooves on the gravel outside and a carriage rolling to a stop. When he recognised the carriage through the window, his heart began to race. He opened the door to see Abbey coming up the steps. He caught his breath. She looked absolutely beautiful. “Abbey!” he said, trying to keep his tone even, but failing.

  “Hello, Jack,” Abbey said, thinking it was wonderful to see his face again. “Is this a bad time?” She’d missed him so much.

  “No, I was” He could hardly say that he was all alone and missing her. “Come in.”

  Abbey entered the house, and Jack led her to the living room, where he asked her to sit down.

  “You look well, Abbey,” he said. Her face was full of colour and vitality, unlike the last time he’d seen her. He was relieved that she’d physically recovered from the ordeal she’d suffered, and hoped that her emotional wounds were healing too.

  “I’ve been well-looked after at the Hall,” Abbey said. “Not that I wouldn’t have been here.” She blushed, and Jack looked uncomfortable.

  “I’m glad, Abbey,” he said. “I’ve been wondering how you’re doing.”

  Abbey wanted to ask why he hadn’t been to see her in the last few weeks, but pride prevented her from doing so. She noted how uncomfortable Jack looked and wondered if he resented her inheritance and the fact that she no longer depended on him. “I suppose you have been very busy here,” she said.

  “Yes, the days aren’t long enough,” Jack said. In actual fact they’d been interminable, but he couldn’t say so. He’d been going through the motions, trying to occupy his mind, but his heart hadn’t been in it.

  Abbey felt hurt. She thought he might have made time for her, but it seemed she wasn’t important enough. “I came today to return your mother’s necklace.” She fished it out of her bag.

  “Oh, thank you,” Jack said, accepting it with a heavy heart. She hadn’t come to see him.

  “Where is your mother?” Abbey asked, glancing around the house. She’d missed Sybil terribly and wondered if she’d missed her, too. She couldn’t hear anyone or anything and couldn’t remember the house ever being so quiet.

  “She’s taking an afternoon nap,” Jack said.

  “Oh, I’m sorry I won’t see her. Has she been cooking?” Abbey imagined Sybil had made lunch, as it was Sabu’s day off.

  “No, that phase didn’t last long,” Jack said. In fact, Sybil hadn’t been inclined to do anything much since Abbey had gone, but he wouldn’t say so.

  “That’s a pity,” Abbey said, feeling a little guilty that Sybil may have reverted to her old ways. She knew it wasn’t actually her fault and hoped that Sybil understood that Abbey had needed time to sort herself out. She did miss her company, though.

  Jack couldn’t help but notice that Abbey was wearing a beautiful new gown that looked like it must have cost a fortune. Her hair was also styled and adorned with an expensive clasp. She looked like a woman of means, which only reminded him that she wasn’t the same girl he’d taken in after she had fainted on the street in Clare.

  Abbey noticed his glance at her attire. “I’ve bought a few new things,” she said, smoothing the skirt of her gown with poise she’d never possessed before. It had been a singular thrill to purchase something outrageously expensive. She believed the Masons owed her that much after all they’d put her through.

  “Yes, I see,” Jack said flatly. How he missed the old Abbey, the girl who thought nothing of wearing a plain gown and going down to see the sheep. He couldn’t imagine her doing that in her fancy new gown.

  “How are things at Bungaree?” Abbey asked. She couldn’t fathom Jack’s mood and was beginning to wonder if he resented her sudden change of fortune.

  “Fine,” Jack said reticently.

  “And Max? I
s he doing well?” She desperately wanted to see him again, but didn’t want to ask.

  “He’s fully recovered and back working again.”

  “That’s wonderful. What about the rams? Have they settled in?”

  “Yes, I’ll soon be putting them with the ewes.” The mention of the rams reminded Jack of what Clementine had done. But that was the past, and he wasn’t going to dwell upon it.

  “What about Josephine?”

  Jack thought Abbey was just making small talk to fill the time before it was polite to leave. “She’s grown quite a bit in the last few weeks.”

  Abbey smiled when she thought of the lamb’s sweet face. “Has she outgrown the ribbon around her neck?”

  “Yes,” Jack said awkwardly. He didn’t want to admit that he’d found a longer red ribbon to tie around her neck, just in case Abbey came back and wanted to find her amongst the other lambs. He decided he’d remove it when she’d gone.

  Abbey wanted to ask about Clementine, but she was too afraid. Obviously, she wasn’t in the house, but that didn’t mean that she and Jack weren’t planning a wedding. It seemed Jack had nothing much to say, and she wondered if he hoped she’d leave.

  “Can we go for a walk in the garden, Jack?” she asked, getting to her feet. She hoped he might feel more at peace under the shade of the blue gum tree, one of his favourite places.

  Jack stood up. “Very well,” he said, but he didn’t sound very enthusiastic, and her heart plummeted.

  Jack frowned as they passed Alfie, waiting with the Martindale carriage. He and Abbey then walked up the pathway leading to the bench under the blue gum tree. Jack remained silent, and the tension between them became palpable.

  “I’ve sold the Burra Mine,” Abbey said when they reached the bench and she sat down.

  “Oh,” Jack said, sitting beside her, but not too close. “Who bought it?” He had imagined that she’d sell the mine. It was the sensible thing to do, and keeping it would have only reminded her of what had happened to her father.

  “To the mineworkers, actually,” Abbey said.

  Jack looked at her in astonishment. “The workers bought it?” He didn’t understand.

  “Yes, I thought they should all have a stake in it.”

  “How could they afford it?” Jack asked. He was sure the Burra Mine was worth a fortune; even a small stake would be beyond the workers’ means.

  “I sold it for a token, Jack, so that they could all afford a share. There should be an announcement in the papers shortly.”

  Jack was absolutely amazed.

  “I wanted all of the workers to have a say in how the mine is run and how to improve safety. I didn’t want another miner to lose his life because of a miserly owner. Not that I would have run the mine like that, but I believe all the profits should be shared amongst the workers. That way, if they work hard, they are rewarded.”

  Abbey had been to the mine to inform the workers of her plan. At first, when they were told she was the new owner, they were hostile. When she told them that they would all be shareholders in the mine, they were confused. Once it was explained to them that she was selling the mine to them for a token, they had all cheered wildly, and some had even grabbed her and kissed her cheek. It was one of the best days of Abbey’s life. She was certain her father would have been immensely proud.

  “Abbey, that is wonderful,” Jack exclaimed. “How did you come up with that idea, or was it Edward Martin’s idea?”

  “No, it was my idea. Mr. Martin was totally against it at first. He was looking at it from the viewpoint of a solicitor protecting my interests, but after a while, he came around.”

  “It was a very generous thing to do,” Jack said, genuinely proud of her. He wanted to say so out loud, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. It would only make things even more awkward between them.

  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what to do with the estate, and I’ve come up with some ideas that I feel good about. I wanted to share them with you, Jack.”

  Jack was uncomfortable with the idea and a little confused, but he didn’t say so. “What have you decided to do with Martindale Hall? Will it continue to be your home?” Once upon a time he wouldn’t have believed that Abbey could live in such a home, especially with all that had happened there, but that had changed the last time he saw her.

  “Martindale is now a refuge for homeless and unwed mothers,” she said. “It’s for young women who have found themselves in the same situation that I found myself in, and also widowed or abandoned women with children and nowhere to live.”

  Jack was shocked.

  “Winston is going to oversee things, along with Mrs. Hendy and Louise. The land surrounding the house will still be run as a farm to support the estate. I’ve appointed a manager to do that. Already three girls have moved into the house to have their babies. They are going to be treated very well and not be made to feel ashamed. Most girls who find themselves in that situation are victims of unscrupulous men, just like I was.” Abbey had also asked Edward Martin to arrange for Neal’s sisters, Amy and Emily, to be sent back from the Adelaide orphanage they’d been placed in. A generous donation had seen to it that no government bureaucracy prevented the girls from returning immediately, and Mrs. Hendy had promised to take them under her wing.

  “What a wonderful idea, Abbey,” Jack said sincerely. He thought that Abbey was making very mature decisions, and she seemed to have found her life’s purpose. He was pleased for her, but also sad that things would never be the same.

  “Do you really think so, Jack? I value your opinion.”

  “Yes, Abbey, I do.” He couldn’t look into her eyes and remain unaffected, so Jack looked over the gardens.

  Abbey had hoped he’d be proud of her and tell her so, but he seemed more distant than ever. It seemed he couldn’t get past the fact that she was independently wealthy.

  “Well, I had better leave,” she said. She was terribly disappointed that he hadn’t asked what she wanted to do with her future, because she desperately wanted to tell him.

  “Thank you for coming, Abbey,” Jack said. He looked into her eyes briefly, before turning to walk down the path. Abbey was confused, but she walked by his side in silence. She was terribly disappointed that the meeting hadn’t gone as she hoped. When they reached the carriage, Alfie opened the door for Abbey.

  “I’ll tell my mother you called,” Jack said stiffly. “She’ll be sorry she missed you.”

  “I’m sorry I missed her, too,” Abbey said truthfully. She hesitated briefly before she got into the carriage, hoping Jack would ask her to stay, but he put his head down and walked towards the veranda. A moment later, the carriage jerked forward, and Jack disappeared from her sight.

  Sybil came out onto the balcony just as the carriage rolled away. Standing at the banister, she called to Jack as he disappeared from view beneath the roofline.

  Jack came back to the steps and looked up.

  “Was that the Martindale carriage? Was Abbey just here?” Sybil asked.

  “Yes,” Jack said.

  “Where’s she going?”

  “Back to Martindale Hall,” Jack said. “It is her home now.”

  “Why didn’t you wake me so that I could talk to her?” Without giving Jack time to answer, she disappeared, and he knew she was coming downstairs. He braced himself for a verbal tirade.

  Jack was in the living room when Sybil stomped into the room. “Before you start, Mother,” he said. “Abbey is happy where she is.”

  “Did she say that?” Sybil demanded to know.

  “She told me all she’s been doing, and she sounded quite pleased with her life on the Martindale estate,” Jack said. He tried not to sound too despondent.

  “Can you honestly imagine Abbey rattling around in that big house?” Sybil asked.

  “She’s not alone,”
Jack replied.

  “I don’t think that doddering old butler is much company.”

  “I wasn’t referring to Winston. Abbey has turned Martindale Hall into a home for unwed mothers, and she sounds delighted with her plans. I believe she’s found her purpose in life.”

  “Where did you get that ridiculous idea?” Sybil asked angrily.

  “It was more than obvious, Mother,” Jack replied crossly.

  “Did she actually tell you that looking after unwed mothers is her life’s purpose?”

  “She didn’t say those exact words,” Jack said impatiently. “But she was very happy about what she’s done.”

  “Just as I thought,” Sybil said furiously. “Men! Sometimes you draw the most ridiculous conclusions.”

  “I’m not listening to this,” Jack said, leaving the house via the backdoor. He walked towards the shearing sheds where he knew he’d get some peace. The ewes and lambs had been moved to the paddock behind the sheds so that he and Wilbur and Ernie could start crutching the next morning.

  ***

  “Stop, Mr. Holbrook,” Abbey said, as they travelled down the road.

  Alfie reined in the horses. “What’s wrong, Miss?” he asked.

  Abbey climbed out of the carriage and stood on the road. “Everything,” she said irritably.

  Alfie didn’t understand. “Can I do something, Miss?”

  “You could shake Jack Hawker to his senses. Doesn’t he know that being wealthy is not the key to my happiness?”

  “I don’t understand, Miss,” Alfie said in confusion.

  “Neither do I,” Abbey lamented. “I was sure that Jack had feelings for me, but he’s acting very strangely. He didn’t even come and see me at the Hall. I don’t understand that at all. I thought he cared enough to come and see how I was.”

  Alfie was even more confused. “I saw him pass the stables twice, Miss,” he said.

  “What? You saw him, Mr. Holbrook?”

  “Yes, Miss. He came the first week you were at the Hall, and the second week. He might have been there again while I was exercising the horses, but I definitely saw him on the estate at least twice.”